-ology
Branch of knowledge
A suffix meaning the study or science of something: biology, psychology, geology.
The root is Greek logos, meaning word or reason, which extended to systematic knowledge.
In casual use, -ology can attach to almost anything to suggest a body of knowledge or expertise: mixology, bro-ology.
Sometimes used playfully to dignify ordinary subjects.
Deliberate learning effort
- scienceSystematic study through observation
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
- researchSystematic fact-finding effort
- fieldArea of specialty
scholarship · knowledge · theory · curriculum · doctorate · thesis · professor · department
Gathered works assembled together
- classificationSystematic grouping by traits
- systemConnected parts forming whole
- bodyPhysical structure, living thing
- corpusAssembled written works
compendium · treatise · encyclopedia · archive · repository · canon · doctrine · philosophy
Study of microscopic life
- epidemiologyStudy of disease spread
- immunologyScience of bodily defenses
- taxonomyScience of categorical arrangement
- cytologyStudy of cells
Trendy jargon, often hollow
- lingoGroup-specific vocabulary
- technobabbleFake scientific-sounding nonsense
- neologismNewly created expression
- coinageInvented term or currency
suffix · nomenclature · lexicon · pseudo-science · scientism · pretension · obfuscation · mystification
study
Deliberate learning effort
- scienceSystematic study through observation
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
- researchSystematic fact-finding effort
field · scholarship · knowledge · theory · curriculum · doctorate · thesis · professor · department · specialization
compilation
Gathered works assembled together
- classificationSystematic grouping by traits
- systemConnected parts forming whole
- bodyPhysical structure, living thing
corpus · compendium · treatise · encyclopedia · archive · repository · canon · doctrine · philosophy · principles
microbiology
Study of microscopic life
- epidemiologyStudy of disease spread
- immunologyScience of bodily defenses
- taxonomyScience of categorical arrangement
buzzword
Trendy jargon, often hollow
- lingoGroup-specific vocabulary
- technobabbleFake scientific-sounding nonsense
- neologismNewly created expression
coinage · suffix · nomenclature · lexicon · pseudo-science · scientism · pretension · obfuscation · mystification · overcomplicated
-ologyobscurantism
Restricting access to knowledge
ignorance · superstition · dogma · guesswork · anti-intellectualism
monologue, prologue, apology, apologize, apologetic, anthology, biology, biological, biologist