ecology

[ ih-kol-uh-jee, ee-kol- ]

noun

, plural e·col·o·gies

1. the branch of biology dealing with the relations and interactions between organisms and their environment, including other organisms.
2. the set of relationships existing between organisms and their environment:

   Inflowing rivers introduce nutrients and sediments that are important for the ecology of the lake.

3. the set of relationships existing between any complex system and its surroundings or environment:

   In the ecology of healthcare, both politics and technology play a key role.

4. Also called human ecology. the branch of sociology concerned with the spacing and interdependence of people and institutions.
5. advocacy for the protection of natural resources from pollution or its effects; environmentalism.

ecology

/ ɪˈkɒlədʒɪ /

noun

1. the study of the relationships between living organisms and their environment
2. the set of relationships of a particular organism with its environment
3. the study of the relationships between human groups and their physical environment

ecology

/ ĭ-kŏl′ə-jē /

1. The scientific study of the relationships between living things and their environments.
2. Also called bionomics
3. A system of such relationships within a particular environment.

ecology

1. The study of living things, their environment, and the relation between the two.

Derived Forms

• eˈcologist, noun

Other Words From

• ec·o·log·i·cal [ek-, uh, -, loj, -i-k, uh, l, ee-k, uh, -], ec·o·log·ic adjective
• ec·o·log·i·cal·ly adverb
• e·col·o·gist noun
• un·ec·o·log·i·cal adjective
• un·ec·o·log·i·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of ecology¹

First recorded in 1870–75; earlier oecology, from German Ökologie, from Greek oîk(os) “house, dwelling” + -o- + German -logie -logy; term introduced by E. H. Haeckel (1834–1919)

Word History and Origins

Origin of ecology¹

C19: from German Ökologie, from Greek oikos house (hence, environment)

Synonym Study

See ecosystem ( def ).

Example Sentences

Having different food sources is the easiest way for species having similar behavioral ecology to coexist in the same geographical area.

From Science Daily

It is not a blank canvas for outsiders to fill with ecology in their own image.

From Salon

Tanton kindles a small fire of twigs inside a metal pitcher, while expounding for the camera about ecology and overpopulation.

From Salon

Its minister for ecology and natural resources - a former oil executive that spent 26 years at Azerbaijan’s state-owned oil and gas company Socar – is the conference's chairman.

From BBC

"There's also not much research on how these renewable energy farms will impact the state's climate and ecology in the long run," he says.

From BBC

Related Words

• conservation
• preservation