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

"This study demonstrates how far we have come in not just quantifying the manifold problems surrounding plastics, but also in identifying and evaluating potential solutions," said Dr. Roland Geyer, Professor of Industrial Ecology, Bren School of Environmental Science & Management at UC Santa Barbara.

From Science Daily

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

From Salon

When Tanton blended ecology with eugenics and immigration, he was digging up the two-century-old principles of Thomas Malthus, who first theorized that human population growth would lead to poverty and suffering.

From Salon

Tanton’s belief that mass immigration would supplant white America had one particular focus: He saw it as a threat to the country’s ecology and ultimately to the consensus among environmentalists about preserving the purity of that ecology.

From Salon

Now, politicians, newscasters, podcast hosts and white nationalists were picking up his ideas about pollution and scarcity, immigration and global warming, that fit their agendas, swirling them together with historical tropes about ecology and racist thought and conspiracy theories, not sure, necessarily, where the ideas had come from but eager to trade on their currency.

From Salon

Related Words

• conservation
• preservation