1
: a branch of knowledge that deals with living organisms and vital processes
advances in the field of biology
a biology textbook
2
a
: the plant and animal life of a region or environment
the biology of the rainforest
b
: the life processes especially of an organism or group
the biology of cancer cells
broadly : ecology

Examples of biology in a Sentence

advances in the field of biology the biology of the rain forest the biology of tumor cells
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Personalized medicine already helps doctors match patients with drugs suited to their cancer’s unique biology. — Mike McRae 25, New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2026 Anisha Patel-Dunn, chief medical officer, LifeStance Health Behavior piles onto biology. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026 The firm produces the indigo through microbial fermentation and synthetic biology, rather than direct photosynthesis. — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2026 Among the elements biology has to work with, oxygen exerts the strongest pull. — Rowan Jacobsen, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for biology

Word History

Etymology

German Biologie, from bi- + -logie -logy

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of biology was in 1799

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Biology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biology. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

biology

noun
1
: a branch of knowledge that deals with living organisms and life processes
2
a
: the plant and animal life of a region or environment
b
: the life processes of an organism or group
Etymology

from German Biologie "biology," derived from Greek bi-, bio- "life" and -logia "study, science"

Medical Definition

biology

noun
plural biologies
1
: a branch of science that deals with living organisms and vital processes
2
a
: the plant and animal life of a region or environment
b
: the laws and phenomena relating to an organism or group
3
: a treatise on biology
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