ornithology

IPA/ˌɔːnɪˈθɒlədʒi/
KK[ˌɔrnɪθˈɑlədʒi]IPA/ˌɔːrnɪˈθɑːlədʒi/

ornithology — noun

1. the branch of science that studies birds and how they live, move, and behave.

1.nounC2
Definition

the branch of science that studies birds and how they live, move, and behave.

Example

In ornithology class, Kian learned how birds use songs to mark territory.

ornithology class

Reema chose ornithology after three summers of counting herons by the lake.

study ornithology

Synonyms
  • bird study

    a plain, general expression rather than a formal academic term

  • avian science

    formal and less common, with a more technical tone

  • zoology

    much broader because it covers all animals, not only birds

Grammar Patterns

study ornithology

ornithology class

ornithology team

book on ornithology

Usage Note

Usually uncountable as the name of the field: say study ornithology, not study an ornithology. Common in academic or specialist contexts; in everyday talk, people may say bird study instead.

Common Mistakes

My sister studies an ornithology at college.
My sister studies ornithology at college.
the field name is usually uncountable.
Birdwatching is his university major.
Ornithology is his university major.
birdwatching usually means the hobby, while ornithology is the academic field.

Word family

  • ornithologist
    nounC2
  • ornithological
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Ornithology is narrower and more scientific than bird study. Bird study can be a plain, general way to talk about learning about birds, while ornithology usually suggests an academic field with research methods and formal training. Zoology is broader, because it covers all animals, not only birds. Birdwatching is also different: it often means the hobby of finding and observing birds, while ornithology includes classification, anatomy, migration, and other research topics. Use ornithology when you mean the discipline itself: 'Reema plans to study ornithology in graduate school.' Use birdwatching for the hobby: 'Reema started birdwatching with her uncle on weekends.'

bird studyzoology ↗birdwatching ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • ornithology class
  • ornithology team
  • ornithology book
  • ornithology professor
  • ornithology journal

Phrases

  • study ornithology
  • major in ornithology
  • teach ornithology
  • do ornithology research

Prepositions

  • in ornithology

Etymology

GreekEnglish

Ornithology is built from Greek parts: ornis or ornith- meaning 'bird' and -logy meaning 'study' or 'a field of knowledge'. English combined these classical parts into a scientific word for the branch of knowledge that focuses on birds.