malacology

1 of 2

noun (1)

mal·a·col·o·gy ˌma-lə-ˈkä-lə-jē

: a branch of zoology dealing with mollusks

malacological

ˌma-lə-kə-ˈlä-ji-kəl

adjective

malacologist

ˌma-lə-ˈkä-lə-jist

noun

malacologist

2 of 2

noun (2)

mal·a·col·o·gist

plural -s

: a specialist in malacology

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

French malacologie, contraction of malacozoologie, from New Latin Malacozoa, zoological group including soft-bodied animals (from Greek malakos soft + New Latin -zoa) + French -logie -logy

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1836, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of malacology was in 1836

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Style

“Malacology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malacology. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.

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