Common "Ologies"

 

Abnormal Psychology	The branch of psychology that is concerned with patterns of behavior, thought, and feeling that deviate greatly from average patterns.
Aerobiology	A branch of biology concerned with airborne viruses, microbes, pollutants, and the like.
Aerology	The branch of meteorology that deals with the entire atmosphere, especially the upper atmosphere.
Agrobiology	The applied science of plant growth and nutrition aimed at improving soil conditions and crop yield.
Agrology	The applied science of soils in relation to crops.
Algology	The study or science of algae or seaweed.  Same as phycology.
Amphibology	An ambiguous or equivocal statement.
Analytic Psychology	A variation of psychoanalysis developed by Carl Jung.
Anesthesiology (Anaesthesiology)	The science, study, and practice of applying anesthetics.
Angelology	The branch of theology having to do with angels.
Anthology	A collection of often similar types of literary work by one or several authors.
Anthropology	The scientific study of mankind, especially its origins, development, social customs and structures, and cultures.
Apology	An expression of regret, as for an error or offense.
Archaeology (Archeology)	The systematic and scientific study of past human life and culture using information gained from the analysis of their artifacts, such as pottery, tools, buildings, and the like.
Astrology	The study of the positions of the heavenly bodies in relation to each other, in the attempt to predict their influence on human affairs.
Audiology	The science or study of hearing and disorders thereof.
Axiology	A branch of philosophy that examines the nature of value and various types of values, as in morals, metaphysics, religion, or the like.
Bacteriology	The science that is concerned with bacteria.
Biology	The science that is concerned with the growth, development, and functioning of living things.
Bryology	The branch of botany dealing with mosses and liverworts.
Cardiology	The medical study of the heart, its normal functioning, and its diseases.
Carpology	Branch of botany which relates to the structure of seeds and fruit.
Cetology	The study of whales and related aquatic mammals.
Christology	The theological study of the person and deeds of Jesus.
Chronology	The science having to do with measuring time and dating events.
Climatology	The scientific study of long-term patterns of weather conditions; science of climates.
Conchology	The scientific study of mollusk shells.
Cosmetology	The study of cosmetics or the profession of applying them.
Cosmology	The branch of philosophy concerned with the nature, origin, and development of the universe.
Craniology	The scientific study of characteristics of the human skull, such as size and shape.
Criminology	The scientific study of crime, criminal behavior, and criminal law systems.
Cultural Anthropology	The branch of anthropology concerned with the origins and development of human cultures, including customs, language, and art. (cf. Physical anthropology.)
Cytology	The branch of biology concerned with the structures and processes internal to cells.
Demonology	The study of demons or of demon worship.
Dendrology	The scientific study of trees and shrubs.
Depth Psychology	The psychological study of the unconscious mind.
Dermatology	The branch of medicine concerned with skin and skin disease.
Dialectology	The study of dialects.
Doxology	A formal expression of praise to God.
Ecology	The scientific study of the relationships between living things and their environments.
Egyptology	The study of ancient Egyptian artifacts, culture, history, or the like.
Embryology	The branch of science that concerns the formation and development of embryos.
Endocrinology	The science of the structure, functions, and secretions of endocrine glands.
Entomology	The science concerned with insects.
Enzymology	The scientific study of enzymes, their properties, and their functions.
Epistemology	The branch of philosophy dealing with the origin, nature, and limits of human knowledge.
Ethnology	A branch of anthropology concerned with the origins and development of various cultures.
Ethnomusicology	The study of the music of one or more ethnic groups, especially as a reflection of cultural values or differences.
Ethology	The scientific study of the behavior of animals.
Etiology	The medical study of the causes of diseases.
Etymology	An account of the origin and development of a word and its meanings.
Exobiology	The study of the effects on living creatures sent outside the earth's atmosphere.
Folk Etymology	A change made in a word or phrase according to a false notion as to its origin or derivation.
Futurology	The study or practice of forecasting future trends or events.
Gastrology	The medical study of the stomach and its diseases.
Gemology (Gemmology)	The science of gems.
Geochronology	The order of events in the earth's history as revealed by geological studies.
Geology	The study of the physical structure, composition and development of the earth or other solid astronomical bodies, especially with regard to rocks.
Geomorphology	The study of the origin, development, and configuration of topographic forms.
Gerontology	The science concerned with the physical and emotional changes associated with aging (see geriatrics).
Gestalt Psychology	A psychological theory that holds that experience is composed of gestalts and that an organism's response to a situation cannot be analyzed as a sum of its elements.
Glaciology	The scientific study of the nature, formation, and movements of glaciers.
Graphology	The study of handwriting, especially as a means of providing insight into the writer's personality.
Gynecology	The branch of medicine that deals with the reproductive system and endocrinology of women.
Hagiology	Literature describing the lives of saints.
Haplology	The loss of one of two identical or similar adjacent syllables in a word
Helminthology	The scientific study of worms, especially parasitic worms.
Hematology	The scientific study of blood and the organs that form it.
Herpetology	The science that deals with reptiles and amphibians.
Hierology	The sacred literature of a people.
High Technology	Any technology that requires or involves sophisticated techniques or equipment, such as genetic engineering or microelectronics; high-tech.
Histology	The scientific study of the microscopic structure of organic tissue.
Homology	The state, condition, or quality of being homologous.
Hoplology	The study of weapons.
Horology	The science or study of measuring time.
Hydrology	The scientific study of the properties, distribution, and effects of water on the earth's surface, in the soil and underlying rocks, and in the atmosphere.
Hymnology	The study of hymns, according to their history or the like.
Hypnology	The study or science of sleep and hypnosis.
Ichnology	The study of fossil footprints.
Ichthyology	The scientific study of fishes.
Iconology	In art history, the study or interpretation of symbols or icons.
Ideology	The body of beliefs, symbols, and political and social aims that characterizes a particular group or institution.
Immunology	The branch of medicine concerned with antibody production and resistance to disease.
Kinesiology	The study of the movement of human muscles, especially as applied in physical education.
Liberation Theology	A kind of Catholic theology, practiced especially by clergy members in Central and South America, advocating social activism against political, economic, or social oppression.
Limnology	The scientific study of the life and phenomena of fresh water, especially lakes and ponds.
Lithology	The scientific study of rocks, especially the physical characteristics that can be studied with little or no magnification.
Malacology	The branch of zoology concerned with mollusks.
Martyrology	A list or catalogue of martyrs.
Menology	A register of months.
Meteorology	The science that deals with the earth's atmosphere, climates, and weather.
Methodology	A body of methods, principles, and rules used for a specific activity or branch of knowledge.
Metrology	The study of measurement units.
Microbiology	The branch of biology dealing with viruses and one-celled organisms such as bacteria and protozoans.
Misology	The hatred of reasoning.
Molecular Biology	The branch of biology concerned with the chemical and physical composition, properties, and activities of molecules, such as proteins and nucleic acids, in living cells.
Morphology	In biology, the study of the physical form and development of body parts.
Musicology	The scholarly study of music theory and history.
Mycology	The branch of botany devoted to the study of fungi.
Mythology	A body of myths particular to one society, event, or subject, or all myths collectively.
Necrology	A list of those who have died within some recent time.
Nephology	The branch of meteorology that deals with clouds.
Nephrology	The branch of medicine that deals with the kidneys.
Neurology	The branch of medical science that deals with the nervous system and diseases that affect it.
Neuropathology	The scientific study of diseases of the nervous system.
Nomology	The study and discovery of general physical and logical laws.
Nosology	The branch of medicine that deals with the classification of diseases.
Numerology	A study of such numbers as those denoting the year of one's birth, to determine their supposed influence on one's character and life.
Oceanology	Oceanography.
Odontology	The science that deals with teeth and gums, and their development and care.
Oenology (Enology)	The study of wines and winemaking.
Oncology	The medical science concerned with cancer, especially with tumors.
Ontology	The philosophical study of existence and the nature of reality.
Oology	The scientific study of birds' eggs.
Ophiology	The branch of zoology that deals with snakes.
Ophthalmology	The medical study of the eye, its diseases, and their treatments.
Ornithology	The scientific study of birds.
Orology	The study of mountains.
Osteology	The study of the skeletal system.
Otology	The study of the form, function, and disorders of the ear.
Paedology	The study of children.
Paleethnology	The study of the earliest humans.
Paleontology	The scientific study of life in past geologic periods through examination of animal and plant fossils.
Papyrology	The study and translation of papyrus manuscripts.
Parapsychology	The scientific study of mental phenomena, such as telepathy or clairvoyance, that have no current scientific explanation.
Parasitology	The scientific study of parasites and parasitism.
Pathology	The scientific study of the causes, nature, and results of bodily disease.
Patrology	The study of the writings of church fathers.
Pedology	The scientific study of soils, including their origins, characteristics, and uses.
Penology	The study and practice of criminal punishment and rehabilitation, and of prison management.
Petrology	The scientific study and classification of rocks.
Pharmacology	The scientific study of the composition, use, and effects of drugs and medicines.
Pharyngology	The study of the pharynx and the diseases associated with it.
Phenomenology	The philosophical study of phenomena, especially of subjective perceptual experience, as distinguished from ontology, the study of being.
Philology	The study of the historical development of the sounds, words, and other grammatical structures of a language or language group.
Phonology	The study of speech sounds and their analysis in phonetics and phonemics.
Phraseology	Characteristic manner or style of verbal expression.
Phrenology	The study of the configurations of the skull as an indication of a person's character and mental capabilities.
Phycology	The branch of botany that deals with algae. Also called algology.
Physical Anthropology	The branch of anthropology concerned with the evolutionary development of humans, physical differences between races, and classifications (cf. cultural anthropology).
Physiology	The science that deals with the processes and functions of living organisms and their cells, tissues, and parts.
Phytopathology	The science of plant diseases.
Pomology	The scientific study of fruits and their cultivation.
Posology	The branch of pharmacology that deals with the dosages of drugs.
Potamology	The scientific study of rivers.
Primatology	The branch of zoology that deals with the primates, especially apes and early human forms.
Proctology	The branch of medicine that deals with the rectum and anus.
Psephology	The study of political elections.
Psychobiology	The branch of biology that deals with the interactions between the mental processes and the body of the individual.
Psychology	The study or science of mental, emotional, and behavioral states and processes.
Psychopathology	The scientific study of mental disorders.
Psychopharmacology	The study of the effect of drugs on the mind, emotions, and behavior.
Pteridology	The study of ferns.
Radiobiology	The branch of biology concerned with the effects of radiation on living tissue and the use of radioactive tracers in the study of biological processes.
Radiology	The branch of medicine dealing with the examination of bones and internal organs using imaging techniques such as x-rays, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance.
Rhinology	The anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the nose.
Scatology	Extreme interest in excretion and excrement.
Seismology	The scientific study of the causes, effects, and characteristics of earthquakes.
Serology	The scientific study of the characteristics and effects of blood serum.
Sexology	The scientific study of human sexual practices or behavior.
Sinology	The study of Chinese language, culture, history, and the like.
Sociobiology	The scientific study of human and animal social behavior based on the theory that such behavior is genetic to some degree.
Sociology	The scientific study of human society, especially its origins, development, organization, and behavioral patterns.
Somatology	The branch of anthropology dealing with humans' physical characteristics.
Speleology	The scientific exploration, examination, and study of caves.
Symbology	The study or explanation of symbols or symbolism.
Symptomatology	The field of medical science having to do with symptoms of disease.
Tautology	Unnecessary repetition of the same idea in different words; redundancy.
Technology	A field of knowledge concerned with the use of industrial arts and applied science to achieve practical objectives.
Teleology	The philosophical doctrine that final causes exist.
Teratology	The scientific study of biological deformities or monstrosities.
Terminology	The specialized vocabulary and expressions used in a particular field or subject; nomenclature.
Thanatology	The interdisciplinary study of death and dying, especially as approached from medical, psychological, and social perspectives.
Theology	The study of religion, especially the relations between god and the universe as expressed in religious doctrine, revelation, and scripture.
Tocology	The science of childbirth; midwifery or obstetrics.
Topology	A topographic study, especially of a specific place, object, or entity.
Toxicology	The science that deals with poisons and the detection and treatment of poisoning.
Tropology	The use of tropes or figurative language in writing.
Typhlology	The medical study of blindness.
Typology	A systematic classification of types, or the study thereof.
Ufology	The study of photographs and reports of unidentified flying objects, especially considered as spacecraft from other planets.
Urbanology	The study of the social problems of cities.
Urology	The area of medicine that deals with the physiology and disorders of the urinary or genitourinary tracts.
Virology	The scientific study of viruses and of the diseases they cause.
Zoology	The science and study of animals.
Zymology	The science involving the chemistry of fermentation; enzymology.