Ecology
/iˈkɒl.ə.dʒi/noun
The branch of biology that studies how organisms interact with each other and their environment.
Did you know?Ecology was coined in the 19th century from Greek roots meaning “house” and “study,” because the natural world was framed as a living household of relationships, not just isolated species.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
4es-
“to dwell, to settle”
Ancient Greek
Greek
oikos
“house, household, family estate”
Ancient Greek
Greek
-logia
“study, discourse, account”
1866
German
c4kologie
“the science of the relations of organisms to each other and to their environment (coined by Ernst Haeckel)”
Late 19th Century
English
ecology
“the study of organisms and their environment”
Modern English
English
ecology
“the branch of biology concerned with interactions among organisms and their environment”