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ecology

n.
US //iˈkɑɫədʒi// UK //ɛkˈɒlədʒi// ecol·o·gy
  1. 1 biological science (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Academic Science

    the branch of biology that looks at how living things interact with their surroundings.

    the scientific study of the distribution and abundance of organisms and their interactions with the environment.

    Example

    She decided to study ecology because she wanted to help protect the local wetlands.

    Example

    Advanced research in ecology often requires a sophisticated understanding of how minor temperature shifts affect the reproductive cycles of native insects.

    Usage

    Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to the academic field.
    • environmental science
    • bionomics
  2. 2 a specific environment (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Science

    the set of relationships between the living things in a particular area.

    the totality or pattern of relationships between organisms and their environment in a specific location.

    Example

    The oil spill caused terrible damage to the delicate ecology of the coastline.

    Example

    The introduction of invasive species can rapidly destabilise the local ecology, leading to the extinction of vulnerable native plants.
  3. 3 system of relationships (n.)
    C1 Advanced Academic

    the way different parts of a complex system, like a business or a city, work together.

    a complex system of interconnected parts, often used metaphorically to describe social or technical environments.

    Example

    The city's business ecology depends on both large companies and small shops.

    Example

    The digital ecology of the modern workplace has been transformed by the integration of cloud-based collaboration tools and remote access protocols.
Origin

Calque of German Ökologie (coined in 1866 by Ernst Haeckel), from Ancient Greek οἶκος (oîkos, “house”) + -λογία (-logía, “study of”). By surface analysis, eco- + -logy.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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Last updated June 20, 2026