morphology

noun

mor·​phol·​o·​gy mȯr-ˈfä-lə-jē 

1

a

: a branch of biology that deals with the form and structure of animals and plants

b

: the form and structure of an organism or any of its parts

amphibian morphology

external and internal eye morphology

2

a

: a study and description of word formation (such as inflection, derivation, and compounding) in language

b

: the system of word-forming elements and processes in a language

According to English morphology, the third person singular present tense of a verb is formed by adding -s.

3

a

: a study of structure or form

b

: structure, form

the unique morphology of the city

—H. J. Nelson

4

: the external structure of rocks in relation to the development of erosional forms or topographic features

morphological

ˌmȯr-fə-ˈlä-ji-kəl 

adjective

or less commonly morphologic

ˌmȯr-fə-ˈlä-jik 

morphologically

ˌmȯr-fə-ˈlä-ji-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

morphologist

mȯr-ˈfä-lə-jist 

noun

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What is morphology?

Within the field of biology, morphology is the study of the shapes and arrangement of parts of organisms, in order to determine their function, their development, and how they may have been shaped by evolution. Morphology is particularly important in classifying species, since it can often reveal how closely one species is related to another. Morphology is studied within other sciences as well, including astronomy and geology. And in language, morphology considers where words come from and why they look the way they do.

Examples of morphology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Challenging Traditional Beliefs on Functionality A recent study conducted by researchers at Chapman University and published in Science Advances questions whether certain breeds are truly superior at biting and smelling due to their skull morphology. —Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 5 Feb. 2025

Photo: Courtesy of Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui Fans of The White Lotus know well that faces and their morphology—whether real or imagined—are important to the show’s creator, Mike White. —Nick Remsen, Vogue, 4 Feb. 2025

By contrast, the northern half appears to be relatively calm with a less complex morphology. —Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 23 Jan. 2025

However, multiple studies over the past 50 years have highlighted the distinctions between different types of giraffe based on their pelage patterns, cranial and postcranial morphology, genetics, ecology, and behavior. —Grrlscientist, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

German Morphologie, from morph- + -logie -logy

First Known Use

1828, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

morphology

noun

mor·​phol·​o·​gy mȯr-ˈfäl-ə-jē 

1

a

: a branch of biology that deals with the form and structure of animals and plants

b

: the form and structure of a plant or animal or any of its parts

2

: the part of grammar dealing with word formation

3

: structure entry 1 sense 3, form

the morphology of rocks

morphological

ˌmȯr-fə-ˈläj-i-kəl 

adjective

Medical Definition

morphology

noun

mor·​phol·​o·​gy mȯr-ˈfäl-ə-jē 

plural morphologies

1

: a branch of biology that deals with the form and structure of animals and plants especially with respect to the forms, relations, metamorphoses, and phylogenetic development of organs apart from their functions see anatomy sense 1 compare physiology sense 1

2

: the form and structure of an organism or any of its parts