biology

noun

bi·​ol·​o·​gy bī-ˈä-lə-jē How to pronounce biology (audio)
1
: a branch of knowledge that deals with living organisms and vital processes
advances in the field of biology
a biology textbook
2
a
: the plant and animal life of a region or environment
the biology of the rainforest
b
: the life processes especially of an organism or group
the biology of cancer cells
broadly : ecology
biologist
bī-ˈä-lə-jist How to pronounce biology (audio)
noun

Examples of biology in a Sentence

advances in the field of biology the biology of the rain forest the biology of tumor cells
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That matters because of a longstanding rule of canine biology. — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Oct. 2026 What’s more, even as they are defined by death, bogs are also springboards for unusual and unlikely life-forms that extend our understanding of biology—from acid-flinging mosses to amphibian-eating plants. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026 As Brolin’s character explains in one of the film’s flashbacks, a whale fall is the marine biology term used to describe the death and sinking of a whale, and the delicate ecological dance that ensues. — David MacK, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026 My own world is math, especially, math applied to the real world, to things like biology and physics and social science. — Quanta Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for biology

Word History

Etymology

German Biologie, from bi- + -logie -logy

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of biology was in 1799

Phrases Containing biology

Rhymes for biology

See All Rhymes for biology

Browse Nearby Words

biologize
biology
bioluminescence
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Biology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biology. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

biology

noun
bi·​ol·​o·​gy bī-ˈäl-ə-jē How to pronounce biology (audio)
1
: a branch of knowledge that deals with living organisms and life processes
2
a
: the plant and animal life of a region or environment
b
: the life processes of an organism or group
biologist
-jəst How to pronounce biology (audio)
noun
Etymology

from German Biologie "biology," derived from Greek bi-, bio- "life" and -logia "study, science"

Medical Definition

biology

noun
bi·​ol·​o·​gy -jē How to pronounce biology (audio)
plural biologies
1
: a branch of science that deals with living organisms and vital processes
2
a
: the plant and animal life of a region or environment
b
: the laws and phenomena relating to an organism or group
3
: a treatise on biology
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of fervid

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All