zoology

noun

zo·​ol·​o·​gy zō-ˈä-lə-jē  zə-ˈwä- 

1

: a branch of biology concerned with the classification and the properties and vital phenomena of animals

2

a

: animal life (as of a region) : fauna

b

: the properties and vital phenomena exhibited by an animal, animal type, or group

zoologist

zō-ˈä-lə-jist 

zə-ˈwä-

noun

Examples of zoology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The researcher, David Rhoades, who had a background in chemistry and zoology, found that the trees in the forest had changed the chemistry of their leaves, to the detriment of the caterpillars. —Rachel Riederer, The New Yorker, 12 June 2024

Max Telford, a professor of zoology at the Center for Life’s Origins and Evolution at University College London, is more supportive of the first scenario. —Cara Giovanetti, Scientific American, 4 Jan. 2024

And her Museum of Vertebrate Zoology -or zoology as the experts say- is one of the top 10 vertebrate collections in the world, used by scientists for research worldwide. —Katie Hafner, Scientific American, 4 Jan. 2024

Like Sam—a vegan zoology student who loves and suffers over animals, protecting and comforting himself with a cocoon of facts about them—we’re going to be keeping a sharp eye out for the details, behaviors, and rituals of this subspecies of mammals. —Sara Holdren, Vulture, 3 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin zoologia "study of animals" (in early use often in reference to animals as the source of medicines), from zoo- zoo- + -logia -logy

First Known Use

1663, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

zoology

noun

zo·​ol·​o·​gy zō-ˈäl-ə-jē  zə-ˈwäl- 

: a branch of biology concerned with the animal kingdom and animal life

Medical Definition

zoology

noun

zo·​ol·​o·​gy zō-ˈäl-ə-jē 

plural zoologies

1

: a branch of biology that deals with the classification and the properties and vital phenomena of animals

2

: the properties and vital phenomena exhibited by an animal, animal type, or group