WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
e•col•o•gy /ɪˈkɑlədʒi/USA pronunciation
n. [uncountable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Biologythe branch of biology dealing with the relations between living things and their environment.
- Biologythe set of relationships between organisms and their environment.
- Ecologythe act or policy of calling for protection of the air, water, and other natural resources from pollution or its effects;
environmentalism:active in ecology.
e•col•o•gy
(i kol′ə jē),USA pronunciation n.
ec•o•log•i•cal
(ek′ə loj′i kəl, ē′kə-),USA pronunciation ec′o•log′ic, adj.
ec′o•log′i•cal•ly, adv.
e•col′o•gist, n.
- Biologythe branch of biology dealing with the relations and interactions between organisms and their environment, including other organisms.
- SociologyAlso called human ecology. the branch of sociology concerned with the spacing and interdependence of people and institutions.
- Greek oîk(os) + -o- -o- + German -logie -logy; term introduced by English. H. Haeckel
- German Ökologie
- 1870–75; earlier oecology
e•col′o•gist, n.