Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index Informally, an ology is a field of study or academic discipline ending in the suffix -ology. Etymology The word ology is a back-formation from the names of these disciplines. Such words are formed from Greek or Latin roots with the terminal -logy derived from the Greek suffix -λογια (-logia), speaking, from λεγειν (legein), to speak. The word ology is thus misleading as the 'o' is actually part of the word stem that receives the -logy ending. For example, the bio part of biology stems from Greek βιος (bios), life. This is why some of the words do not end in -ology (such as mineralogy). Other words ending in ology Not all words ending in -ology are ologies in the above sense. In some words such as tautology and haplology, the -logy suffix is from the Greek λογοσ, word, and denotes not a field of study but a type of speech or writing. For example, haplology means the mistake of saying one letter, syllable or word when two or more are required, as in the example of pronouncing the word "February" somewhat like "Febuary". It should also be pointed out that some words mean to study something, but aren't called ologies -- midwifery is one example. Usage Although technically incorrect, "-ology" is sometimes used to describe a subject rather than the study of it. Technology is a typical example. This usage is also widespread in medicine; for example, pathology is often used for specific disease ("We have not found the pathology yet"). A famous British television commercial of the 1980s has a Jewish student phoning his grandmother to confirm his exam results. He is disappointed that he has only passed Sociology, but his grandmother will have none of it. "Anthony," she insists, "if you get an ology, you're a scientist!" A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A listing of ologies A Acarology, the study of ticks and mites Actinobiology, the study of the effects of radiation upon living organisms Actinology, the study of the effect of light on chemicals Aerology, the study of the free atmosphere Aeropalynology, the study of pollen grains and spores (palynomorphs) in the atmosphere Aetiology, the medical study of the causation of disease Agnoiology, the study of things of which we are by nature ignorant, or of things which cannot be known Agrobiology, the study of plant nutrition and growth in relation to soil conditions Algology, the study of algae Allergology, the study of the causes and treatment of allergies; a branch of medicine Andrology, the study of male health and disease Anesthesiology, the study of anesthesia and anesthetics; a branch of medicine Angelology, the study of angels Angiology, the study of the anatomy of blood and lymph vascular systems Anthropology, the study of humans Arachnology, the study of spiders and their kin Archaeology, the study of ancient history Archaeozoology, the study of relationships between humans and animals over time through examination of animal remains at archaeological sites (also see Zooarchaeology) Assyriology, the study of the Assyrians Astrology, the study of stars' influences on human affairs Audiology, the study of hearing; a branch of medicine Autecology, the study of the ecology of any individual species Axiology, the study of the nature of values and value judgements B Bacteriology, the study of bacteria Balneology, the scientific study of baths, bathing and of their application to disease Bioclimatology, the study of the effects of climate on living organisms Bioecology, the study of the relationship of organisms to each other and to their environment Biology, the study of life Biometeorology, the study of the effects of atmospheric conditions on living organisms Bryology, the study of bryophytes Byzantology, the study of Byzantium C Campanology, the study and the art of bell ringing Cardiology, the study of the heart Carpology, the study of the structure of seeds and fruit Cerealogy, the study of crop circles Cetology, the study of marine mammals Chorology, the study of the relationship of biological or other phenomena to their locations Chronology the study of things in order of time or the study of time Climatology, the study of the climate Conchology, the study of shells and of molluscs Cosmology, the study of the cosmos or our place in it. Craniology, the study of the characteristics of the skull Criminology, the scientific study of crime. Cryptology, the study of how to encrypt and decrypt secret messages Cryptozoology, the study of animals that may or may not be mythical Cytology, the study of biological cells D Deltiology, the study of, but more often the collecting of picture postcards Demonology, the study of demons Dendrochronology, the study of the age of trees and the records in their rings Dendrology, the study of trees Dermatology, the field of medicine that deals with the skin Dialectology, the study of dialects E Ecclesiology, the study of Church architecture and decoration, or separately the study of the Christian Church Ecology, the study of the interrelationships between living organisms and their environment Ecophysiology, the study of the interrelationship between an organism's physical functioning and its environment Egyptology, the study of the ancient Egyptians Electrophysiology, the study of the relationship between electric phenomena and bodily processes Embryology, the study of embryos Emetology, the study or knowledge of emetics Endocrinology, the study of internal secretory glands Enigmatology, the study of enigmas Entomology, the study of insects Enzymology, the study of enzymes Epidemiology, the study of epidemics Epistemology, the study of the nature and origins of knowledge Eschatology, a branch of theology concerned with the final events in the history of the world or of mankind Ethnology, the study of race Ethnomusicology, the study of music in society, usually non-western music Ethology, the study of animal behaviour Etiology, same as Aetiology Etymology, the study of word origins Evolutionary biology, the study of the process of biological evolution Exobiology, the study of life in outer space G Gastrology or Gastroenterology - diseases of stomach and intestines Genealogy (commonly misspelt as "genealogy"), the study of relationships within families particularly with a view to constructing family trees Genecology, the study of genetic differences in relation to the environment Geochronology, the study of the age of the Earth Geology, the study of the Earth Geomorphology, the study of present-day landforms, traditionally on Earth but with increasing frequency on nearby planetary objects Gerontology, the study of old age Glaciology, the study of glaciers Grammatology, the study of writing systems Graphology, the study of handwriting for the purpose of analysing the character of the writer Gynaecology or Gynecology, the study of medicine relating to women, or of women in general H Hematology/Haematology, the study of blood Heliology, the study of the Sun Helioseismology, the study of vibrations and oscillations in the Sun Helminthology, the study of parasitic worms Hepatology, the study of the liver; a branch of medicine Herbology, the study of the therapeutic use of plants Herpetology, the study of reptiles and amphibians Histology, the study of living tissues Histopathology, the study of the (microscopic) structure of diseased tissuess Historiology, the study of the writings and practices of historians Horology, the study of making timepieces, measuring time and timekeeping Hydrogeology, the study of underground water Hydrology, the study of water I Ichthyology, the study of fish Ichnology, the study of fossil footprints, tracks and burrows Immunology, the study of the immune system J Japanology, the study of Japanese culture K Killology, the study of human beings killing other human beings (Grossman's Theory) Kinesiology, the study of movement in relation to human anatomy; a branch of medicine Koreanology, the study of Korea Kremlinology, the study of communist Soviet Union Kymatology, the study of waves or wave motions L Laryngology, the study of the larynx, or voice box; a branch of medicine Limnology, the study of fresh water environments, particularly lakes Lithology, the study of rocks Lymphology, the study of the lymph system and glands M Malacology, the study of mollusks Mammology, the study of mammals Meteorology, the study of weather Methodology, (properly) the study of methods Metrology, the study of measurement Microbiology, the study of microorganisms and their effects on humans Mineralogy, the study of minerals Morphology, the study of forms; more precisely the study of the grammatical structure of words, a branch of linguistics Musicology, the study of music Mycology , the study of fungi Myology the scientific study of muscles Myrmecology, the study of ants Mythology, the study of myths N Nanotechnology, the study and design of machines at the molecular level Neonatology, the study of diseases and the care of newborn infants; a branch of pediatrics/paediatrics Nephology, the study of clouds Nephrology, the study of the kidneys and their diseases, a branch of medicine Neurology, the study of nerves Neuropathology, the study of neural diseases Neurophysiology, the study of the functions of the nervous system Nosology, the study of diseases Nostology, the study of ageing and senility, in relation to a return to childish characteristics in old age Numerology, the study of numbers (often in a non-mathematical sense) O Oceanology, the study of oceans Odontology, the study of the structure, development, and abnormalities of the teeth Omphalology, facetious name for the non-existent medical specialty that treats of navels, which has been used in a manner similar to the way the word widget is used in economics textbooks Oncology, the study of cancer Ontology, the study of existence Oology, the study of eggs Ophthalmology, the study of the eyes Organology, the study of musical instruments (not just organss); alternatively, the study of anatomical organss Ornithology, the study of birds Orology, the study of mountains and their mapping Osteology, the study of bones Otolaryngology, the study of the ear and throat; a branch of medicine Otology, the study of the structure, function, and pathology of the ear Otorhinolaryngology, the study of the ear, nose, and throat; a branch of medicine P Palaentology, the study of ancient creatures Paleoanthropology, the study of ancient humans and human origin Paleoclimatology, the study of climate prior to the widespread availability of records of temperature, precipitation, and other instrumental data Palynology, the study of pollen Parapsychology, the study of paranormal or psychic phenomenon that defy conventional scientific explanations Parasitology, the study of parasites Pathology, the study of illness Pedology, the study of soil Pekingology, the study of communist People's Republic of China Penology, the study of prison management and criminal rehabilitation. Petrology, the study of sedimentary organic matter in rocks Pharmacology, the study of drugs Phenomenology, the study and science of phenomena as distinct from the science of actual existence or being; also a movement founded by Husserl which studies conscious experience without its metaphysical concerns Phonology, the study of vocal sounds Phrenology, the derivation of a persons character traits, by studying the shape of their skull Physiology, the study of bodies, usually of animals Phytology, the study of plants; botany Planktology, the study of plankton Pneumology, the study of the lungs and related organs; a branch of medicine Primatology, the study of primates Psychobiology, the study and psychology of organisms with regard to their functions and structures Psychology, the study of mental processes in humans Psychophysiology, the study of the physiological bases of psychological processes R Radiology, the study of rays, usually ionising radiation Reflexology, originally the study of reflexes or of reflex responses; but see also non-study list Rheology, the study of flow Rheumatology, the study of rheumatic diseases, a branch of medicine Rhinology, the study of the nose and its diseases S Seismology, the study of earthquakes Selenology, the study of the moon, a branch of astrology Semiology the study of signs Serology, the study of blood serum Sexology, the study of sex Sinology, the study of China Sociology, the study of society Sociobiology, the study of the effect of evolution on ethology Soteriology is the study of the doctrine of salvation, especially as related to Christianity Speleology, the study or exploration of caves Stomatology, the study of the mouth and its diseases Symbology, the study and interpretation of symbols Symptomatology, the study of symptoms Synecology, the study of the ecological interrelationships among communities of organisms T Technology, the study of the practical arts (but see above) Teleology, the study of ends or final causes Teratology, the study of wonders, or monsters Theriology, the study of mammals Theology, the study of God Thremmatology, the study of breeding domestic plants and animals Tocology, the study of childbirth Topology, the mathematical study of closeness and connectedness Toxicology, the study of poisons Traumatology, the study of wounds and injuries caused by accidents or assaults and their surgical treatment and repair; a branch of medicine Tribology, the study of friction and lubrication Typology, the study of classification U Urology, the study and treatment of diseases of the urogenital tract, a branch of medicine V Venereology, the study of venereal diseases Vexillology, the study of flags Victimology, the study of victims of crime, often applied to characterizing the criminal Virology, the study of viruses Volcanology (also spelled vulcanology), the study of volcanoes and related phenomena (traps) X Xenobiology, the study of non-terrestrial life Xylology, the study of wood Z Zooarchaeology, the study and analysis of animal remains at archaeological sites to reconstruct relationships between people, animals, and their environment (also see Archaeozoology) Zoology, the study of animals Zymology, the study of fermentation Ologies that are not fields of study Words ending in -ology that are not fields of study, and thus not "ologies" in the sense of this article, are: Anthology, a collection of literary pieces (such as poems) Apology a statement of regret. an explanation for or justification of beliefs. Chronology is the arrangement or setting out of past events in order of occurrence; the recording of historical events in date sequence. Deontology, the ethical theory concerned with duties and rights Doxology, a spoken or sung end of a prayer. Eulogy, though not an -ology, is a commemoration of a person's life at his/her funeral. Hagiology is literature dealing with the life of a saint or, indeed, any revered person, a biography of an individual, rather than a study of saints, sainthood or saintliness in general. Kibology, joke religion worshiping Kibo Philology, the historical study of languages. This is not a ology in the strict sense, because it is not the study (-ologia) of love (philo-), but the love (philo-) of literature (logia). Phraseology is the way words are put together, therefore the style being used in a sentence, or the set of phrases or the choice of words used by any particular group of people, a type of register, then, that reflects the form of language used in a certain social situation in which particular subjects are being discussed. Examples of register (phraseology) are: (obscene) slang, legal language (legalese), journalese, the jargon of the racecourse, or the special words or phrases used in certain occupations, as only a few of a very numerous category. Reflexology, alternative method of massage, therapy or pressure on certain points of the sole of the feet as a means of relieving nervous tension Scientology, the belief system/cult religion founded by L. Ron Hubbard, self-described as a study of knowledge. Tautology, a self-affirming truth. Terminology, a set of words and/or phrases, usually in relation to some particular canon or field of study e.g. 'mathematical terminology'. Tetralogy of Fallot, an abnormality of the heart consisting of four deformities that often occur together Trilogy (although not strictly an -ology) is a body of writing in three parts, as tetralogy is that in four parts. Other words such as pentalogy, hexalogy and heptalogy cover larger series. Tropology, the use of tropes in speech or writing See also Isms ographies External links Whatsology Another list of ologies The famous British "ology" advert This article is from Wikipedia. All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.