# geography

/dʒiˈɑɡɹəfi/ (US) · /dʒɪˈɒɡɹəfi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/geography
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. academic subject

noun · CEFR A1

the study of the world's surface, climate, and how people live in different places.

For teachers: the scientific study of the Earth's physical features, atmosphere, and the distribution of human populations and resources.

- In geography class today, we learned about the major rivers in South America.
- The university's geography department focuses on the intersection of urban development and environmental sustainability in coastal regions.

### 2. physical terrain

noun · CEFR B1

the physical features of a specific area of land.

For teachers: the physical characteristics and topographical features of a specific region or territory.

- The rough geography of the mountains made it difficult to build new roads.
- The local geography, dominated by steep limestone cliffs and deep valleys, provided a natural defense against invading forces for centuries.

### 3. layout of a place

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

the way a building or room is organized.

For teachers: the physical arrangement or spatial distribution of elements within a specific structure or area.

- It took me a few days to learn the geography of the new office building.
- Once you understand the geography of the warehouse, finding specific inventory items becomes a much more efficient process.

### 4. business territory

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

a specific area or region where a company does business.

For teachers: a geographical area defined as a specific field of business operations or a market sector.

- Our sales team is responsible for the northern geography of the country.
- The firm decided to expand into the Asian geography after seeing significant growth in consumer demand across the Pacific Rim.

## Examples

- We are learning about the geography of Europe in school today.
- The geography of the region makes it difficult to build new roads because of the steep mountains.
- Understanding the human geography of the borderlands is essential for developing trade policies that reflect the actual movement of local populations.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.