biology
noun
bi·ol·o·gy
bī-ˈä-lə-jē 
1
: a branch of knowledge that deals with living organisms and vital processes
advances in the field of biology
a biology textbook
2
a
: the plant and animal life of a region or environment
the biology of the rainforest
b
: the life processes especially of an organism or group
the biology of cancer cells
broadly
: ecology
Examples of biology in a Sentence
advances in the field of biology
the biology of the rain forest
the biology of tumor cells
Recent Examples on the Web
But at least a half-dozen 19th-century examples involve skin purportedly taken from female patients or cadavers by male doctors, with several used to cover books about female biology or sexuality (like a treatise on virginity held at the Wellcome Collection in London).
—
Julia Jacobs, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2024
Evan Saitta Not much organic material survives over millions of years, which limits scientists’ ability to study the biology of extinct organisms compared to modern ones, whose proteins and DNA can be sequenced.
—Evan Thomas Saitta, Discover Magazine, 12 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for biology 
Julia Jacobs, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2024
Evan Saitta Not much organic material survives over millions of years, which limits scientists’ ability to study the biology of extinct organisms compared to modern ones, whose proteins and DNA can be sequenced.
—Evan Thomas Saitta, Discover Magazine, 12 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for biology
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'biology.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near biology
Cite this Entry
“Biology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biology. Accessed 3 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
biology
noun
bi·ol·o·gy
bī-ˈäl-ə-jē
1
: a branch of knowledge that deals with living organisms and life processes
2
a
: the plant and animal life of a region or environment
b
: the life processes of an organism or group
Etymology
from German Biologie "biology," derived from Greek bi-, bio- "life" and -logia "study, science"
Medical Definition
biology
noun
bi·ol·o·gy
-jē
plural biologies
1
: a branch of science that deals with living organisms and vital processes
2
a
: the plant and animal life of a region or environment
b
: the laws and phenomena relating to an organism or group
3
: a treatise on biology
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