Also ‑ology.
A subject of study or interest; speech or language.
French ‑logie or medieval Latin ‑logia, from Greek logos, word or speech.
Many examples relating to a field of study exist, of which a selection is given in the list below. Almost all precede the ending with ‑o‑; two common exceptions are genealogy and mineralogy, but under the influence of the majority these are also often seen spelled with o.
The ending is active in forming new words. It is often used to create temporary or humorous forms, as with gizmology, the subject of gizmos or gadgets; sleazology, the investigation or study of sordid and corrupt behaviour; mindology, a facetious alternative to psychology. Ology has existed since the early nineteenth century as an informal term for any subject of study or branch of knowledge.
A second, less common, sense is related to that of ‑logue, indicating some characteristic of speech or language, or a type of discourse. Examples include terminology (medieval Latin terminus, a term); tautology (Greek tauto‑, same), the saying of the same thing twice over in different words; symbology, the study or use of symbols; and apology (Greek apologia, a speech in one's own defence, from apo, away). Anthology comes from the related Greek suffix ‑logia, a collection, plus anthos, flower, because it originally meant a collection of flowers of verse, choice epigrams and the like. See also ‑logist and ‑logical.
Examples of words in -logy
Origins are from Greek unless otherwise stated.
anthropology
the study of humankind
anthrōpos, human being
archaeology and US also archeology
the study of human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of physical remains
arkhaios, ancient
astrology
the study of the movements and relative positions of celestial bodies interpreted as having an influence on human affairs and the natural world
astron, star
biology
the study of living organisms
bios, life
biotechnology
the exploitation of biological processes for industrial and other purposes
bios, life, plus technē, art, craft
chronology
the study of historical records to establish the dates of past events
khronos, time
ecology
the branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings
oikos, house
geology
the science which deals with the physical structure and substance of the earth, their history, and the processes which act on them
gē, earth
gynaecology and US gynecology
the branch of physiology and medicine which deals with the functions and diseases specific to women and girls, especially those affecting the reproductive system
gunē, gunaik‑, woman, female
meteorology
the branch of science concerned with the processes and phenomena of the atmosphere, especially as a means of forecasting the weather
meteōron, of the atmosphere
microbiology
the branch of science that deals with micro-organisms
mikros, small, plus bios, life
neurology
the branch of medicine or biology that deals with the anatomy, functions, and organic disorders of nerves and the nervous system
neuron, nerve, sinew, tendon
pathology
the science of the causes and effects of diseases
pathos, suffering, disease
pharmacology
the branch of medicine concerned with the uses, effects, and modes of action of drugs
pharmakon, drug
physiology
the branch of biology that deals with the normal functions of living organisms and their parts
phusis, nature
psychology
the scientific study of the human mind and its functions, especially those affecting behaviour in a given context
psukhē, breath, soul, mind
sociology
the study of the development, structure, and functioning of human society
Latin socius, companion
technology
the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry
technē, art, craft
theology
the study of the nature of God and religious belief
theos, god
topology
the study of geometrical properties and spatial relations unaffected by the continuous change of shape or size of figures
topos, place
zoology
the scientific study of the behaviour, structure, physiology, classification, and distribution of animals
zōion, animal
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