-logy
The
English suffix -ology or
-logy denotes a field of
study or academic
discipline, and
-ologist describes a person who studies that field.
The word
ology is a
back-formation from the names of these disciplines. "-logy" basically means "the study of ____". Such words are formed from
Greek or
Latin roots with the terminal
-logy derived from the Greek suffix
-λογια (
-logia),
speaking, from
λεγειν (
legein),
to speak. The word
ology is thus misleading as the 'o' is actually part of the word stem that receives the -logy ending. For example, the
bio part of
biology stems from Greek
βιος (
bios),
life. This is why some of the words do not end in
-ology (such as
mineralogy).
Not all words ending in -ology are ologies in the above sense. In some words such as
tautology and
haplology, the -logy suffix is from the Greek
λογος,
word, and denotes not a field of study but a type of speech or writing. For example,
haplology means the mistake of saying one letter, syllable or word when two or more are required, as in the example of pronouncing the word
February somewhat like
"Febuary".
It should also be pointed out that some words mean to study something, but aren't called ologies – midwifery is one example.
Although technically incorrect, "-ology" is sometimes used to describe a subject rather than the study of it.
Technology is a typical example. This usage is also widespread in medicine; for example,
pathology is often used for
specific disease ("We have not found the pathology yet").
"Ology" can be appended to any word,
humorously, when describing its study; such as
beer-ology or
Wiki-ology]].
There are a few irregular exceptions to the ending "-ologist"; for example theology/theologian.
A famous
British television commercial of the
1980s has a
Jewish student calling his
grandmother (played by
Maureen Lipman) to confirm his exam results. He is disappointed that he has only passed
Sociology, but his grandmother will have none of it. "Anthony," she insists, "if you get an ology, you're a
scientist!"
The term "Ology" is often used, pejoratively, to indicate that a subject is a
pseudo-science, and does not meet the same standards of rigour as more hard sciences such as Physics or Chemistry.
*
classical compound*
-ism*
suffixesA
*
Acarology, the study of
ticks and
mites
*
Acridilogy, the study of
Grasshoppers and
Locusts*
Actinobiology, the study of the effects of
radiation upon
living organisms*
Actinology, the study of the effect of light on chemicals
*
Aerobiology, a branch of biology that studies organic particles, such as bacteria, fungal spores, very small insects and pollen, which are passively transported by the air.
*
Aerology, the study of the
free atmosphere*
Aeropalynology, the study of
pollen grains and
spores (palynomorphs) in the
atmosphere*
Aetiology, the medical study of the causation of
disease*
Agnoiology, the study of things of which we are by nature ignorant, or of things which cannot be known
*
Agrobiology, the study of plant nutrition and growth in relation to soil conditions
*
Agrology**
Canada: the art and science of agriculture
** Non-Canada: the study of soils
*
Agrostology, the study of
grasses
*
Algology, the study of
algae*
Allergology, the study of the causes and treatment of
allergies; a branch of medicine
*
Andrology, the study of male health and disease
*
Anesthesiology, the study of anesthesia and anesthetics; a branch of medicine
*
Angelology, the study of
angels
*
Angiology, the study of the
anatomy of
blood and
lymph vascular systems
*
Anthropology, the study of
humans
*
Apiology, the study of bees (apiaries)
*
Arachnology, the study of
spiders and their kind
*
Archaeology, the study of past cultures through the analysis of material remains
*
Archaeozoology, the study of relationships between humans and animals over time through examination of animal remains at archaeological sites (also see
Zooarchaeology)
*
Areology, the study of
Mars *
Assyriology, the study of the
Assyrians
*
Astacology, the study of
crayfish*
Asteroseismology, the study of the internal structures of stars as revealed by sound waves (see also
Helioseismology).
*
Astrobiology, the study of
origin of life *
Astrogeology, the study of
geology of celestial bodies (e.g.,
planets,
asteroids,
comets)
*
Astrology, the study of purported influences of
stars on human affairs
*
Atmology, the study of the laws and phenomena of aqueous vapors
*
Atomology, the doctrine of atoms
*
Audiology, the study of hearing; a branch of medicine
*
Autecology, the study of the
ecology of any individual species
*
Auxology, the study of human growth.
*
Axiology, the study of the nature of values and value judgements
B
*
Bacteriology, the study of
bacteria*
Balneology, the scientific study of
baths,
bathing and of their application to disease
*
Bioclimatology, the study of the effects of
climate on
living organisms*
Biogeomorphology, or
ecogeomorphology, the study of interactions between
organisms and
geomorphological processes*
Bioecology, the study of the relationship of
organisms to each other and to their
environment*
Biology, the study of
life*
Biometeorology, the study of the effects of atmospheric conditions on
living organisms*
Boxology is the study of schematic layouts, for example of corporate
org charts.
*
Bryology, the study of
bryophytesC
*
Caliology, the study of
nests of
birds
*
Campanology, the study and the art of bell ringing
*
Cardiology, the study of the
heart*
Cariology, the study of
cells
*
Carpology, the study of the structure of
seeds and
fruit*
Cereology, the study of
crop circles
*
Cetology, the study of
cetaceans - whales, dolphins, and porpoise
*
Characterology, the study of
character*
Chelonology, the study of
turtles*
Christology, the
theological study of redemption (
christos > christein: to sacrament), not only speaking of
Christianity but also extended to religion in general
*
Chorology, the study of the relationship of biological or other phenomena to their locations
*
Chronology the study of things in order of time or the study of time
*
Climatology, the study of the
climate*
Codicology, the study of the preparation of books and
manuscripts (ink, paper, vellum etc)
*
Coleopterology, the study of
beetles*
Coniology, the study of dust in the atmosphere and its effects on plants and animals, also spelled "koniology".
*
Conchology, the study of
shells and of
molluscs*
Cosmology, the study of the
cosmos or our place in it.
*
Cosmetology, the study of cosmetics and their use.
*
Craniology, the study of the characteristics of the
skull*
Criminology, the scientific study of
crime.
*
Cryology, the study of very low temperatures and related phenomena.
*
Cryptology, the study of how to encrypt and decrypt secret messages
*
Cryptozoology, the study of animals that may or may not be mythical
*
Cynology, the study of
dogs
*
Cytomorphology, the study of the structure of cells
*
Cytology, the study of
cells
D
*
Deltiology, the study of, but more often the collecting of picture
postcards
*
Demonology, the study of
demons
*
Dendrochronology, the study of the age of
trees and the records in their rings
*
Dendrology, the study of
trees
*
Deontology, in
ethics, the study of
duty.
*
Dermatology, the field of medicine that deals with the skin
*
Dermatopathology, the field of
dermatological anatomical pathology*
Desmology, the study of ligaments
*
Dialectology, the study of
dialects
*
Dipterology, the study of flies
*
Dosology, the study of dosages of medicine and drugs. Same as
posology.
*
Doxology, the speech of Praise (not a proper ology, see below)
E
*
Ecclesiology, the study of
Church architecture and decoration, or separately the study of the
Christian Church*
Ecogeomorphology, or
biogeomorphology, the study of interactions between
organisms and
geomorphological processes*
Ecohydrology, the study of interactions among
organisms and the
water cycle.
*
Ecology, the study of the interrelationships between living organisms and their environment. Sometimes spelled "Å"cology".
*
Ecophysiology, the study of the interrelationship between an organism's physical functioning and its environment
*
Edaphology, a branch of
soil science that studies the influence of soil on life.
*
Egyptology, the study of the ancient
Egyptians
*
Electrophysiology, the study of the relationship between electric phenomena and bodily processes
*
Embryology, the study of
embryos
*
Emetology, the study or knowledge of
emetics
*
Endocrinology, the study of internal secretory glands
*
Enigmatology, the study of
puzzles
*
Enology (or Oenology), the study of
wine and winemaking
*
Entomology, the study of
insects
*
Enzymology, the study of
enzymes
*
Epidemiology, the study of
epidemics
*
Epistemology, the study of the nature and origins of
knowledge*
Escapology, the practice of escaping from
restraints or other traps.
*
Eschatology, a branch of
theology concerned with the final events in the history of the world or of mankind
*
Ethnology, the study of race
*
Ethnomusicology, the study of music in society, usually non-western music
*
Ethology, the study of
animal behaviour*
Etiology, same as
Aetiology*
Etymology, the study of word origins
*
Eulogy, the speech of praise
*
Evolutionary biology, the study of the process of biological
evolution*
Evolutionary psychology, the study of the process of (usually)
human psychological evolution.
*
Exobiology, the study of life in outer space
F
*
Felinology, the study of cats
*
Fetology, the study of the
fetus, especially when within the
uterus. Sometimes spelled foetology.
*
Formicology, the study of
ants
G
*
Garbology - study of refuse and
trash*
Gastrology or
Gastroenterology - diseases of
stomach and
intestines
*
Gemmology or Gemology, the study of
gemstones and ornamental materials
*
Genealogy (commonly misspelt and mispronounced as "geneology"), the study of relationships within families particularly with a view to constructing
family trees
*
Genecology, the study of genetic differences in relation to the environment
*
Geobiology, the study of the
biosphere and its relations to the
lithosphere and
atmosphere.
*
Geochronology, the study of the age of the Earth
*
Geology, the study of the
Earth*
Geomorphology, the study of present-day
landforms, traditionally on Earth but with increasing frequency on nearby planetary objects
*
Gerontology, the study of old age
*
Glaciology, the study of
glaciers
*
Grammatology, the study of
writing systems. Also the study of deconstructive literary criticism, popularized in the
1960s by
Jacques Derrida*
Graphology, the study of handwriting for the purpose of analysing the character of the writer
*
Gynaecology or
Gynecology, the study of medicine relating to women, or of women in general
H
*
Hematology/
Haematology, the study of
blood*
Heliology, the study of the
Sun*
Helioseismology, the study of vibrations and oscillations in the
Sun*
Helminthology, the study of parasitic
worms. See
Vermeology.
*
Henology, roughly, the study of unity. In
natural theology, a
henological argument attempts to prove the existence of God by reasoning from a multiplicity of virtues backwards to show that they must have one source (
God). [
1]
*
Hepatology, the study of the
liver; a branch of medicine
*
Herbology, the study of the therapeutic use of plants
*
Herpetology, the study of
reptiles and
amphibians*
Heteroptology, the study of
true bugs.
*
Histology, the study of living tissues
*
Histopathology, the study of the (microscopic)
structure of diseased
tissues
*
Historiology, the study of the writings and practices of historians
*
Horology, the study of making
timepieces, measuring
time and
timekeeping (also the study of time)
*
Hungarology, the study of the language, culture and history of Hungary or Hungarians
*
Hydrogeology, the study of underground water
*
Hydrology, the study of
water*
Hypnology, the study of
sleep (also:
somnology)
I
*
Ichthyology, the study of fish
*
Ichnology, the study of fossil footprints, tracks and burrows
*
Immunology, the study of the immune system
*
Islamology, the study of the
IslamJ
*
Japanology, the study of Japanese people
*
Judeology, the study of the Jewish People, and extended:
JudaismK
*
Karyology, the study of karyotypes (a branch of
cytology)
*
Killology, the study of human beings killing other human beings (
Grossman's theory)
*
Kinesiology, the study of movement in relation to human anatomy; a branch of
medicine*
Kremlinology, the study of the
Soviet Union*
Kymatology, the study of
waves or wave motions
L
*
Laryngology, the study of the
larynx, or
voice box; a branch of medicine
*
Lepidopterology, the study of
butterflies and
moths*
Lexicology, the study of the signification and application of words
*
Limnology, the study of fresh water environments, particularly
lakes*
Lithology, the study of
rocks*
Ludology, the study of
video games*
Lymphology, the study of the
lymph system and
glandsM
*
Malacology, the study of
mollusks*
Mammalogy, the study of
mammals*
Mereology, a branch of logic focusing on the study of part-whole
relationships*
Meteorology, the study of
weather*
Methodology, (properly) the study of methods
*
Metrology, the study of
measurement*
Microbiology, the study of
microorganisms.
*
Micrology, the science of preparing and handling microscopic objects for study.
*
Mineralogy, the study of
minerals*
Mixology, the study or skill of preparing mixed
drinks.
*
Molinology, the study of
windmills,
watermills and
animal engines.
*
Monadology, a book by
Leibniz on the study of his theory of
monads.
*
Morphology, the study of forms that is used in several other fields (
biology,
linguistics,
astronomy, etc.)
*
Musicology, the study of
music*
Mycology, the study of
fungi*
Myology the scientific study of
muscles*
Myrmecology, the study of
ants*
Mythology, the study of
mythsN
*
Nanotechnology, the study and design of machines at the molecular level
*
Neonatology, the study of diseases and the care of newborn infants; a branch of pediatrics/paediatrics
*
Nephology, the study of
clouds*
Nephrology, the study of the
kidneys and their diseases, a branch of medicine
*
Neurology, the study of
nerves
*
Neuropathology, the study of neural diseases
*
Neurophysiology, the study of the functions of the
nervous system*
Nosology, the study of diseases
*
Numerology, the study of
numbers (often in a non-mathematical sense)
O
*
Oceanology, the study of
oceans
*
Odonatology, the study of
dragonflies and
damselflies*
Odontology, the study of the structure, development, and abnormalities of the
teeth*
Oenology, the study of
wine*
Oikology, the study of
housekeeping*
Oncology, the study of
cancer*
Oneirology, the study of
dreams*
Ontology, the study of
existence*
Oology, the study of
eggs
*
Ophthalmology, the study of the eyes
*
Organology, the study of
musical instruments (not just
organs); alternatively, the study of
anatomical organs
*
Ornithology, the study of
birds
*
Orthopterology, the study of
grasshoppers and
crickets*
Orology, the study of
mountains and their mapping
*
Osteology, the study of
bones
*
Otolaryngology, the study of the ear and throat; a branch of medicine
*
Otology, the study of the structure, function, and pathology of the
ear*
Otorhinolaryngology, the study of the ear, nose, and throat; a branch of medicine
P
*
Paleontology, the study of ancient creatures
*
Paleoanthropology, the study of ancient humans and human origin
*
Paleoclimatology, the study of climate prior to the widespread availability of records of temperature, precipitation, and other instrumental data
*
Paleoecology, the study of past environments using the fossils of plants and animals
*
Palynology, the study of
pollen*
Parapsychology, the study of paranormal or psychic phenomenon that defy conventional scientific explanations
*
Parasitology, the study of parasites
*
Pathology, the study of illness
*
Pedology (soil study)*
Pedology (children study) *
Penology, the study of
prison management and criminal
rehabilitation.
*
Personology, a variant of
physiognomy*
Petrology, the study of rocks
*
Pharmacology, the study of
drugs*
Phenology, the study of
periodic biological phenomena such as flowering, migration, breeding, etc.
*
Phenomenology, the study and science of phenomena as distinct from the science of actual existence or being; also a movement founded by Husserl which studies conscious experience without its metaphysical concerns
*
Phlebology, a branch of medicine that deals with the
venous system*
Phonology, the study of vocal sounds
*
Phrenology, the derivation of a persons character traits, by studying the shape of their skull
*
Physiology, the study of bodies, usually of animals
*
Phytology, the study of
plants;
botany*
Planetology, the study of
planets and
solar systems
*
Planktology, the study of
plankton*
Pneumology, a synonym of
Pulmonology*
Pomology, the scientific study and cultivation of fruits
*
Posology, see
dosology*
Primatology, the study of
primates
*
Psychobiology, the study and psychology of organisms with regard to their functions and structures
*
Psychology, the study of mental processes in humans
*
Psychopharmacology, the study of psychotropic or psychiatric drugs
*
Psychophysiology, the study of the physiological bases of psychological processes
*
Pulmonology is the specialty in
medicine that deals with diseases of the
lungs and the
respiratory tract.
*
Pyrology, the study of
fireR
*
Radiology, the study of rays, usually ionising
radiation*
Reflexology, originally the study of reflexes or of reflex responses; but see also non-study list
*
Rheology, the study of
flow*
Rheumatology, the study of rheumatic diseases, a branch of medicine
*
Rhinology, the study of the
nose and its diseases
S
*
Sarcology, a subsection of
anatomy that studies the soft parts. It includes myology, angiology, neurology, and splanchnology
*
Scatology, the study of
feces*
Sedimentology, a branch of
geology that studies sediments.
*
Seismology, the study of
earthquakes
*
Selenology, the study of the
moon*
Semiology the study of
signs
*
Serology, the study of
blood serum*
Serpentology, the study of
snakes
*
Sexology, the study of
sex*
Sinology, the study of
China*
Sitiology,
dietetics, the study of diet. Also, a treatise on diet. Also spelled "sitology"
*
Sociology, the study of
society*
Sociobiology, the study of the effect of
evolution on
ethology*
Somnology, the study of
sleep, also:
hypnology*
Soteriology the study of the doctrine of
salvation, especially as related to
Christianity*
Sovietology, the study of
communist Soviet Union*
Speleology, the study or exploration of
caves
*
Splanchnology, the study of the
viscera.
*
Sporalogy, a parody of astrology
*
Stemmatology, from dictionary.com: the humanistic discipline that attempts to reconstruct the transmission of a text (especially a text in manuscript form) on the basis of relations between the various surviving manuscripts (sometimes using cladisitc analysis)[
2]
*
Stomatology, study of the
mouth and its diseases
*
Symbology, the study and interpretation of
symbols, or a set of symbols. Also used for types of
barcodes
*
Symptomatology, the study of
symptoms
*
Synecology, the study of the ecological interrelationships among communities of organisms
T
*
Technology, the study of the practical arts (but see above)
*
Teleology, the study of ends or final causes
*
Teratology, the study of
wonders, or
monsters*
Thanatology, the study of physical, psychological and social problems associated with dying.
*
Theriology, the study of
mammals (also, but less used: mammalogy)
*
Thermology, the study of
heat.
*
Theology, the study of
God*
Thremmatology, the study of breeding domestic plants and animals
*
Tidology, the study of tides.
*
Tocology, the study of childbirth, sometimes spelled "tokology".
*
Tonology, the study of intonation in speech
*
Topology, the mathematical study of closeness and connectedness
*
Toxicology, the study of
poisons
*
Traumatology, the study of
wounds and
injuries caused by
accidents or
assaults and their surgical treatment and repair; a branch of
medicine*
Traumatopsychology, the study of
psychological traumas
*
Tribology, the study of
friction and lubrication
*
Trichology, the study of hair and scalp
*
Trichopterology, the study of
caddis flies*
Typology, the study of classification
U
*
Urology, the study and treatment of diseases of the
urogenital tract, a branch of medicine. Sometimes spelled "ourology".
*
Ufology, the study of
Unidentified flying object (UFO) phenomena.
V
*
Vaccinology, the study of
vaccines
*
Venereology, the study of
venereal diseases
*
Vermeology, the study of
worms. See
helminthology.
*
Vexillology, the study of
flags
*
Victimology, the study of victims of
crime, often applied to characterizing the criminal
*
Virology, the study of
viruses
*
Volcanology (also spelled
vulcanology), the study of volcanoes and related phenomena (
traps)
X
*
Xenobiology, the study of non-terrestrial life
*
Xylology, the study of
woodZ
*
Zooarchaeology, the study and analysis of animal remains at archaeological sites to reconstruct relationships between people, animals, and their environment (also see
Archaeozoology)
*
Zoology, the study of
animals
*
Zymology, the study of
fermentationWords ending in
-ology that are not fields of study, and thus not "ologies" in the sense of this article, are:
*
Anthology, a collection of literary pieces (such as poems).
*
Apology**a statement of regret.
**an explanation for or justification of beliefs.
*
Chronology is the arrangement or setting out of past events in order of occurrence; the recording of historical events in date sequence.
*
Cosmetology, the art and career of using
cosmetics to improve beauty.
*
Dilogy is
**ambiguous or equivocal speech, or
**a work composed in two parts (see
trilogy)
*
Docimology, a treatise on the art of testing, e.g. in assaying metals.
*
Doxology, a spoken or sung end of a prayer.
*
Eulogy, though not an -ology, is a commemoration of a person's life at his/her funeral.
*
Francology -- there is an institute of Francology in
Bucharest,
Romania.
*
Hagiology is
literature dealing with the life of a
saint or, indeed, any revered person, a biography of an individual, rather than a study of
saints, sainthood or saintliness in general.
*
Heterology, a dissimilarity of parts often attributable to a difference in origin.
*
Homology, a similarity often atributable to common origin
*
Ideology, sometimes spelled idealogy, is a system of ideas about politics, human life or culture.
*
Kibology, joke religion worshiping
Kibo.
*
Menology, a register of
months, or a
calendar of the lives of the
saints for each day of the year.
*
Misology is the hatred of reason, enlightment or rational argument.
*
Onology, foolish discourse.
*
Philology, the historical study of languages. This is not a
ology in the strict sense, because it is not the study (
-ologia) of love (
philo-), but the love (
philo-) of literature (
logia).
*
Phraseology is the way words are put together, therefore the
style being used in a
sentence, or the set of
phrases or the choice of words used by any particular group of people, or a type of
register that reflects the form of language used in a certain social situation in which particular subjects are being discussed.
*
Piphilology seems to be a borderline case with some aspects of a field of study, but not a scientific discipline.
*
Reflexology, alternative method of
massage,
therapy or pressure on certain points of the sole of the feet as a means of relieving nervous tension.
*
Scientology, the belief system/cult religion founded by
L. Ron Hubbard, self-described as a study of knowledge.
*
Tautology, a self-affirming truth.
*
Terminology, a set of words and/or phrases, usually in relation to some particular canon or field of study e.g. 'mathematical terminology'.
*
Tetralogy of Fallot, an abnormality of the
heart consisting of four deformities that often occur together.
*
Trilogy (although not strictly an
-ology) is a
body of writing in three parts, as
tetralogy is that in four parts. Other words such as
pentalogy,
hexalogy, and
heptalogy or
septology cover larger series.
*
Tropology, the use of
tropes in speech or writing.
*A
Zumology is a treatise on the fermentation of liquors.
*
What's OLogy?*
List of ologies*
Another list of ologies*
The famous British "ology" advert*
A list of science ologies
