astrology

American  

[uh-strol-uh-jee] / əˈstrɒl ə dʒi /

noun

1. the study that assumes and attempts to interpret the influence of the heavenly bodies on human affairs.

2. Obsolete. the science of astronomy.

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astrology British  

/ ˌæstrəˈlɒdʒɪkəl, əˈstrɒlədʒɪ /

noun

1. the study of the motions and relative positions of the planets, sun, and moon, interpreted in terms of human characteristics and activities

2. the primitive study of celestial bodies, which formed the basis of astronomy

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astrology Cultural  

1. A study of the positions and relationships of the sun, moon, stars, and planets in order to judge their influence on human actions. Astrology, unlike astronomy, is not a scientific study and has been much criticized by scientists. (See zodiac (see also zodiac).)

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Other Word Forms

• astrologer noun
• astrologic adjective
• astrological adjective
• astrologically adverb
• astrologist noun
• astrologous adjective

Etymology

Origin of astrology

1325–75; Middle English < Latin astrologia < Greek. See astro-, -logy

Compare meaning

How does astrology compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• astronomy vs. astrology

Example Sentences

Others have turned toward astrology, a less scientific but increasingly popular way of divining meaning from the night sky.

From The Wall Street Journal

A music mode lets people give greater weight to musical tastes while seeking promising profiles, while a new astrology mode makes star signs a factor in the mix.

From Barron's

Deluard admitted that drawing chart analogies is the functional equivalent of “astrology.”

From MarketWatch

Lily flips through the newspaper until she recognizes the big square with the astrology signs.

From Literature

“My mother loved dissecting politics through Chinese astrology,” she says.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• horoscope