histology

American  

[hi-stol-uh-jee] / hɪˈstɒl ə dʒi /

noun

1. the branch of biology dealing with the study of tissues.

2. the structure, especially the microscopic structure, of organic tissues.

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histology British  

/ hɪˈstɒlədʒɪ, ˌhɪstəˈlɒdʒɪkəl /

noun

1. the study, esp the microscopic study, of the tissues of an animal or plant

2. the structure of a tissue or organ

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histology Scientific  

/ hĭ-stŏl′ə-jē /

1. The scientific study of the microscopic structure of plant and animal tissues.

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Other Word Forms

• histologic adjective
• histological adjective
• histologically adverb
• histologist noun

Etymology

Origin of histology

First recorded in 1840–50; histo- + -logy

Example Sentences

Then came the gut punch: “The histology confirmed grade 4 glioblastoma, or GBM.”

From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026

It can reveal the orientation and organization of tissue fibers at micrometer resolution on virtually any histology slide, regardless of how it was stained or preserved -- even if the slide is many decades old.

From Science Daily • Dec. 9, 2025

It typically takes six to eight weeks to complete a full autopsy report, allowing for toxicology and histology tests to be completed.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 17, 2024

But a provisional cause of death was not done "pending further investigation of histology and toxicology".

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2023

To the extent that fetal hormones affect brain chemistry and histology, I’ve got a male brain.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides