ecology
noun
ecol·o·gy
i-ˈkä-lə-jē 
e-
plural ecologies
1
: a branch of science concerned with the interrelationship of organisms and their environments
2
: the totality or pattern of relations between organisms and their environment
3
4
: environment, climate
the moral ecology
also
: an often delicate or intricate system or complex
the ecology of language
Examples of ecology in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Because the foxes in the Sierra Nevada are isolated from their relatives living in the Lassen Peak area, the collaring of this fox offers scientists a rare opportunity to better understand the ecology and conservation needs of this remote group.
—
Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
The real impact on invasive reptiles Frank Mazzotti, a wildlife ecology professor at the University of Florida/IFAS, said that one or two days of intense cold do not have much impact on pythons and iguanas, unlike what happened in 2010.
—Sonia Osorio, Miami Herald, 4 Feb. 2026
New Pleistocene gardens at the Wilshire Boulevard entry and within the museum courtyard connect the landscape and ecology to the Ice Age history of the site.
—Marianne Love, Daily News, 30 Jan. 2026
This idea has ample support from broader theories in behavioral ecology, where cooperative interactions within or across species can be stabilized by mechanisms that penalize exploitation or defection.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
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Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
The real impact on invasive reptiles Frank Mazzotti, a wildlife ecology professor at the University of Florida/IFAS, said that one or two days of intense cold do not have much impact on pythons and iguanas, unlike what happened in 2010.
—Sonia Osorio, Miami Herald, 4 Feb. 2026
New Pleistocene gardens at the Wilshire Boulevard entry and within the museum courtyard connect the landscape and ecology to the Ice Age history of the site.
—Marianne Love, Daily News, 30 Jan. 2026
This idea has ample support from broader theories in behavioral ecology, where cooperative interactions within or across species can be stabilized by mechanisms that penalize exploitation or defection.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ecology
Cite this Entry
“Ecology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ecology. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ecology
noun
ecol·o·gy
i-ˈkäl-ə-jē
e-
1
: a branch of science concerned with the relationships between living things and their environment
2
: the pattern of relationships between a group of living things and their environment
Medical Definition
ecology
noun
ecol·o·gy
-jē
plural ecologies
1
: a branch of science concerned with the interrelationship of organisms and their environments
2
: the totality or pattern of relations between organisms and their environment
3
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