phenology

1 of 2

noun

phe·​nol·​o·​gy fi-ˈnä-lə-jē How to pronounce phenology (audio)
1
: a branch of science dealing with the relations between climate and periodic biological phenomena (such as bird migration or plant flowering)
2
: periodic biological phenomena that are correlated with climatic conditions
phenological
ˌfē-nə-ˈlä-ji-kəl How to pronounce phenology (audio)
adjective
phenologically
ˌfē-nə-ˈlä-ji-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce phenology (audio)
adverb

phenological

2 of 2

adjective

phe·​no·​log·​i·​cal ¦fēnə¦läjə̇kəl How to pronounce phenological (audio)
-jēk-
variants or less commonly phenologic
-jik, 
-jēk
: of, relating to, or involving phenology
phenologically
-jə̇k(ə)lē How to pronounce phenological (audio)
-jēk-, 
-li
adverb

Examples of phenology in a Sentence

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.
Noun
Think about the phenology of plants, taking note of when the plants complete their life cycle, as this can shift the timing of the flowers. — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 8 Apr. 2026 One study found wild bees across species have been changing their phenology, or timing of seasonal activities, and over the past 50 years the emergence date is four times faster. — Courtney McGinnis, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2025 Gardeners, farmers, naturalists and scientists have long relied on phenology to guide decision-making. — Alice Cason, Mercury News, 20 Oct. 2025 Starting about 2005, springtime phenology stabilized in places like the Netherlands, where flycatcher numbers had fallen so drastically since the 1980s. — Scott Weidensaul, AZCentral.com, 13 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for phenology

Word History

Etymology

Noun

phenomena + -logy

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1884, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of phenology was circa 1884

Rhymes for phenology

See All Rhymes for phenology

Browse Nearby Words

phenologist
phenology
phenolphthalein
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Phenology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phenology. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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