human ecology

noun

1
: a branch of sociology dealing especially with the spatial and temporal interrelationships between humans and their economic, social, and political organization
2
: the ecology of human communities and populations especially as concerned with preservation of environmental quality (as of air or water) through proper application of conservation and civil engineering practices

Examples of human ecology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine offers exactly one major, human ecology. Anna Demeo, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 Cities are human ecologies, and people need spaces that are livable, green, and flame-resilient. The New Yorker, New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2025 Even temporary, low-cost additions to playgrounds can produce new play patterns, human ecology researchers Lorraine Maxwell, Mari Mitchell, and Gary Evans show in a two-stage investigation. Laura Clawson, JSTOR Daily, 13 Aug. 2025 And the dynamics of glacial advancement and recession have profoundly affected human ecology. Lesley Evans Ogden, Discover Magazine, 7 Apr. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of human ecology was in 1907

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Cite this Entry

“Human ecology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/human%20ecology. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Medical Definition

human ecology

noun
1
: a branch of sociology concerned especially with the study of the spatial and temporal interrelationships between human beings and their economic, social, and political organization
2
: the ecology of human communities and populations especially as concerned with preservation of environmental quality (as of air or water) through proper application of conservation and civil engineering practices

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