-logy

See also: logy

English

Alternative forms

-ology

Etymology

The English -logy suffix originates with loanwords from the Greek, usually via Latin and French, where the suffix (-λογία) is an integral part of the word loaned. E.g. astrology from astrologia, since the 16th century.

The French -logie is a continuation of Latin -logia, ultimately from Ancient Greek -λογία (-logía). Within Greek, the suffix is an -ία (-ía) abstract from λόγος (lógos, “account, explanation, narrative”), itself a verbal noun from λέγω (légō, “I say, speak, converse, tell a story”).

Within English, the suffix becomes productive, especially to form names of sciences or departments of study, analogous to names of disciplines loaned from the Latin, such as astrology from astrologia or geology from geologia. Original compositions of terms with no precedent in Greek or Latin become common beginning in the later 18th century, sometimes imitating French or German templates (e.g. insectology, attested 1766, after French insectologie; terminology, attested 1801, after German Terminologie).

In a third stage, from the 19th century, the suffix becomes productive enough to form nonce combinations with English terms with no Greek or Latin origin, such as undergroundology (1820), hatology (1837).

Finally, from the second half of the 19th century, the suffix has also been used as a simplex as ology (plural ologies) and logy (plural logies), in parallel with and often alongside ism (plural isms).

Pronunciation

enPR: ləjē, IPA^(key): /ləd͡ʒi/

Suffix

-logy

A branch of learning; a study of a particular subject.
Examples: biology, geology, genealogy
Speech, or a way of speaking, a narrative.
Examples: haplology, eulogy, trilogy, apology

Usage notes

The form -ology is also used when including the connecting vowel -o- that is commonly used in connecting two elements of Greek origin.

Synonyms

(branch of learning): -ics, -lore

Derived terms

English terms suffixed with -logy

acarology
acridology
actinobiology
actinology
addictology
adenology
aerobiology
aerogeology
aerology
aeropalynology
aesthesiophysiology
aetiology
agnatology
agnoiology
agnotology
agrobiology
agrobiotechnology
agroecology
agrohydrology
agrology
agrostology
aitiology
alcohology
alethiology
alethology
algesiology
algology
allergology
amphibiology
anaesthesiology
anaplastology
andrology
anesthesiology
angelology
angiocardiology
angiology
angiopathology
anthropobiology
anthropology
anthrozoology
aphasiology
apidology
apiology
arachnology
arbovirology
archaeology
archaeomalacology
archaeozoology
archeology
archeomalacology
archeozoology
arcinology
arcology
areology
aretalogy
arteriology
arthrology
arthropodology
Assyriology
asteroseismology
astrobiology
astrogeology
astrology
astroseismology
astrotheology
atmology
atomology
audiology
autecology
auxology
axiology
bacteriology
balneology
baraminology
benthology
bioarchaeology
biocenology
bioclimatology
biocoenology
bioecology
biology
biometeorology
biomusicology
biomythology
biopharmacology
biophysiology
biopsychology
biosociology
biotechnology
biotoxicology
boxology
brachylogy
bromatology
bronchoesophagology
bronchology
bronchooesophagology
brontology
brontotheology
bryology
bryotechnology
bryozoology
Buddhology
cacology
campanology
cardioangiology
cardiology
cardiovasology
cariology
carphology
carpology
cecidiology
cecidology
cereology
cetology
characterology
cheirology
chelonology
chemoecology
chirology
choreology
chorology
chorology
chresmology
Christology
chronobiology
chronology
chronopharmacology
cirripedology
climatology
codicology
codology
cohomology
coleopterology
coloproctology
comitology
communicology
communio-ecclesiology
communioecclesiology
conchology
coniology
contactology
coprology
cosmetology
cosmobiology
cosmochronology
cosmogeology
cosmology
cosmotheology
craniology
criminology
criteriology
crustaceology
cryobiology
cryology
cryotechnology
cryptology
cryptozoology
culturology
cynology
cytohistology
cytology
cytomorphology
cytopathology
cytophysiology
dactylology
decalogy
deltiology
demonology
dendroarchaeology
dendroarcheology
dendrochronology
dendroclimatology
dendrology
deontology
dermatology
dermatopathology
dermatovenerology
desmology
diabetology
dialectology
dianoiology
diatomology
dietology
dipterology
dittology
docimology
dosology
doxology
dracology
draconology
dracontology
dramatology
dysteleology
ecclesiology
eccrinology
echinodermology
echocardiology
ecoclimatology
ecohydrology
ecology
ecomorphology
ecopedology
ecophysiology
ecopsychology
ecotechnology
ecotoxicology
ecotrophology
edaphology
Egyptology
egyptology
eidology
electropathology
electrophysiology
electrotechnology
embryology
emetology
encephalology
endocrinology
endodontology
endourology
enigmatology
enology
enterology
entomology
environtology
enzymology
epeirology
epidemiology
epidemology
epileptology
epiphytology
epistemology
epizootiology
escapology
eschatology
esophagology
Esperantology
esthesiophysiology
ethicotheology
ethnoarchaeology
ethnoarcheology
ethnoecology
ethnology
ethnomethodology
ethnomusicology
ethnoorganology
ethno-organology
ethnopharmacology
ethnopsychology
ethology
etiology
Etruscology
etymology
exobiology
exogeology
exomorphology
fetology
fornicology
Francology
futurology
galactology
garbageology
garbology
gastroenterology
gastrology
gelotology
gemellology
geminology
gemmology
gemology
genealogy
genecology
geoarchaeology
geoarcheology
geobiology
geochronology
geocryology
geoecology
geohydrology
geology
geomicrobiology
geomorphology
geopathology
geopedology
geotechnology
geratology
gerodontology
gerontology
glaciology
glossology
glottochronology
glottology
glycobiology
gnathology
gnoseology
graminology
grammatology
graphology
gynaecology
gynecology
haematology
haematopathology
haemostaseology
hagiology
hamartiology
hamartology
haplology
helcology
heliology
helioseismology
helminthology
hematology
hematopathology
hemostaseology
henology
hepatogastroenterology
hepato-gastroenterology
hepatology
heptalogy
herbology
heresiology
herpetology
heterology
heteropterology
hexalogy
hippology
histology
histomorphology
histopathology
historiology
histotechnology
Hittitology
hodology
holomorphology
hominology
homoiology
homology
horology
humorology
hydrobiology
hydroecology
hydrogeology
hydrology
hydrometeorology
hydromicrobiology
hydromorphology
hymenopterology
hymnology
hypnology
iatroastrology
iatrotheology
ichnology
ichthyology
ichthyotheology
iconology
ideology
imageology
imagology
imamology
immunobiology
immunocytology
immunodermatology
immunohaematology
immunohematology
immunohistology
immunology
immunopathology
implantology
Indology
infectiology
infology
insectology
Iranology
irenology
iridology
Islamology
Japanology
Judeology
kairology
karstology
karyology
karyomorphology
Kibology
kidology
killology
kinesiology
kinology
knobology
Kremlinology
krenology
Kurdology
kymatology
laryngology
lepidopterology
lexicology
lichenology
limnology
limnozoology
lipidology
lithology
lithotheology
ludology
lymphology
malacology
malacozoology
maledictology
mammalogy
Mariology
martyrology
mediology
meiobenthology
melissopalynology
melittology
melitto-theology
melittotheology
menology
mereology
mereotopology
mesology
messianology
metabiology
metaphorology
metapsychology
meteorology
meteoropathology
methodology
metrology
microarchaeology
microarcheology
microbiology
microclimatology
microhistology
micrology
micrometeorology
micromorphology
micropalaeontology
micropaleontology
micropathology
microtechnology
mineralogy
misology
missiology
mixology
molinology
monadology
morology
morphology
morphophonology
museology
musicology
Mycenology
mycetology
mycology
myology
myriapodology
myrmecology
mythology
nanobiotechnology
nanotechnology
narcology
narratology
necrology
nematology
neology
neonatology
nephology
nephrology
neuroanthropology
neurobiology
neurocytology
neuroendocrinology
neuroethology
neurogastroenterology
neurohistology
neuroimmunology
neurology
neuroophthalmology
neuro-ophthalmology
neurootology
neuropathology
neuropathophysiology
neuropharmacology
neurophenomenology
neurophysiology
neuropsychology
neuropsychopharmacology
neuroradiology
neurotechnology
nidology
nomology
noology
nosology
nostology
numerology
obesitology
oceanology
odonatology
odontology
odontostomatology
odorology
oenology
oesophagology
oikology
omphalology
oncohaematology
oncohematology
oncology
oneirology
onology
onomasiology
onomatology
ontology
ontopsychology
ontotheology
oology
ophiology
ophthalmology
optotechnology
orchidology
organology
ornithology
orology
orthokeratology
orthology
orthopterology
osmology
osteoarchaeology
osteoarcheology
osteoimmunology
osteology
otolaryngology
otology
otorhinolaryngology
ovology
paedodontology
pædology
paedology
paidology
palæanthropology
palaeanthropology
palaeoanthropology
palaeobiology
palaeoclimatology
palaeoecology
palaeoecophysiology
palaeoentomology
palaeohistology
palaeohydrology
palaeoichnology
palaeoichthyology
palaeolimnology
palaeomorphology
palaeontology
palaeoosteology
palaeoparasitology
palaeopathology
palaeopedology
palaeophysiology
palaeophytology
palaeornithology
palaeoserology
palaeovirology
palaeozoology
paleoanthropology
paleobiology
paleoclimatology
paleoecology
paleoecophysiology
paleoentomology
paleohistology
paleohydrology
paleoichnology
paleoichthyology
paleolimnology
paleomorphology
paleontology
paleoosteology
paleoparasitology
paleopathology
paleopedology
paleophysiology
paleophytology
paleornithology
paleoserology
paleovirology
paleozoology
palynology
papyrology
parachronology
paralogy
parapsychology
parasitology
paremiology
parodontology
pathobiology
pathohistology
pathology
pathophysiology
pathopsychology
patrology
pedobiology
pedodontology
pedology
penology
pentalogy
perinatology
periodontology
pestology
petinotheology
petino-theology
petrifactology
petrology
pharmacology
pharyngology
phenology
phenomenology
philology
phlebology
phonology
photobiology
photogeology
photology
phraseology
phrenology
phthisiology
phycology
phyllobiology
physico-theology
physicotheology
physiology
physiopathology
phytobalneology
phytoecology
phytology
phytomorphology
phytonematology
phytopalaeontology
phytopaleontology
phytopathology
phytopharmacology
phytophysiology
phytosociology
phytotechnology
phytotheology
phyto-theology
pigeonology
piphilology
pisteology
planetology
planktology
plumology
pneumatology
pneumology
pneumonology
podology
poenology
poetology
politology
polyetiology
pomology
ponerology
posology
potamology
praxeology
primatology
proctology
projectiology
prophetology
protistology
protology
protozoology
psephology
pseudoetymology
pseudo-etymology
psychobiology
psychodermatology
psychoendoneuroimmunology
psychology
psychoneuroendocrinoimmunology
psychoneuroendocrinology
psychoneuroimmunology
psycho-oncology
psychooncology
psychopathology
psychopharmacology
psychophysiology
psychotraumatology
pteridology
pulmology
pulmonology
pyramidology
pyrology
pyro-theology
pyrotheology
quadrilogy
raciology
radiobiology
radioecology
radiology
radiooncology
radiopathology
radiopharmacology
rastrology
reflexology
reptiliology
rheology
rheumatology
rhinolaryngology
rhinology
rhodology
rhythmology
roentgenology
runology
sacramentology
sarcology
scatology
scenology
Scientology
sclerochronology
sedimentology
seismology
selenology
semasiology
sematology
semiology
senology
seroepidemiology
serology
serpentology
sexology
Sinology
sinology
sitiology
skeletochronology
sociobiology
sociology
somatology
somnology
sophiology
sophrology
soteriology
Sovietology
spasmologyy
speleology
splanchnology
spongiology
sporalogy
staurology
stemmatology
stomatology
storiology
strabismology
strabology
strigiology
stromatology
sucrology
suggestology
suicidology
Sumerology
symbology
symptomatology
symptomology
syndesmology
syndromatology
synecology
syphilology
syzygiology
tautology
technology
tegestology
teleology
teleradiology
teratology
terminology
testamentology
tetralogy
teuthology
thanatology
thaumatology
theology
theriogenology
theriology
thermatology
thermology
Thracology
thremmatology
Tibetology
tidology
timology
tocology
tokology
tonology
topology
toxicology
transfusiology
translatology
transplantology
trassology
traumatology
traumatopsychology
tribology
trichology
trichopterology
trilogy
trophology
tropology
Turcology
Turkology
typology
ufology
urogynaecology
urogynecology
urology
urooncology
uro-oncology
uroradiology
vaccinology
venereology
venology
vermeology
vexillology
victimology
vinylogy
virology
vitaminology
Volapükology
volcanology
vulcanology
xenobiology
xenology
xylology
zooarchaeology
zooarcheology
zooecology
zoology
zoomorphology
zoopalaeontology
zoopaleontology
zoosociology
zumology
zymology
zymotechnology

Derived terms pertaining to speech, or a way of speaking, a narrative

analogy
apology
dilogy
duology
eulogy
haplology
hexalogy
quadrilogy
tetralogy
trilogy

Related terms

-logic
-logical
-logist
ology

Translations

branch of learning

Afrikaans: -logië
Albanian: -logjia
Alemannic German: -logie f
Ancient Greek: -λογία f (-logía)
Arabic: ـلُوجِيَا‎ f (-lūjiyā), عِلْم اَلـ‎ (ar) m (ʿilm al--)
Aragonese: -lochía f
Asturian: -loxía f
Azerbaijani: -şünaslıq, -logiya
Belarusian: -ло́гія f (-lóhija)
Breton: -loji f
Bulgarian: -ло́гия f (-lógija)
Catalan: -logia (ca) f
Cebuano: -lohia
Chinese:
Cantonese: 學 (yue), 学 (haak)
Mandarin: 學／学 (zh) (xué)
Corsican: -lugia f
Czech: -logie f
Danish: -logi (da) c
Dutch: -logie (nl) f, -kunde, -leer
Erzya: -тона (-tona)
Esperanto: -logio
Estonian: -loogia
Faroese: -frøði f
Finnish: -logia (fi), -oppi (fi)
French: -logie (fr) f
Galician: -loxía (gl) f
Georgian: -ლოგია (ka) (-logia)
German: -kunde (de) f, -lehre (de) f, -wissenschaft (de) f, -logie (de) f, -ik (de) f
Greek: -λογία (el) f (-logía)
Hebrew: ־לוגיה‎ (he) (-logya)
Hindi: -ज्ञान (hi) m (-gyān)
Hungarian: -lógia, -ászat, -észet, -tan (hu), -tudomány (hu)
Icelandic: -fræði
Ido: -logio
Indonesian: -logi
Interlingua: -logia
Irish: eolaíocht f
Italian: -logia (it) f
Japanese: 学 (ja) (-がく, -gaku), -ロジー (-rojī) (with non-Japanese words)
Kazakh: -тану (-tanu)
Khmer: -វិទ្យា (km) (vityiə), -សាស្ត្រ (saastrɑɑ)
Korean: 학(學) (ko) (hak)
Latin: -logia f
Latvian: -logija f
Lithuanian: -logija f
Low German: -logie f
Luxembourgish: -logie f
Macedonian: -логија f (-logija)
Malay: -logi (ms), kaji
Mongolian: зүй (mn) (züj)
Moroccan Amazigh: ⵜⴰⵙⵏ- (tasn-), ⵜⵓⵙⵏ- (tusn-)
Navajo: naalkaah
Northern Sami: -logiija
Norwegian:
Bokmål: -logi (no)
Occitan: -logia f
Old English: -cræft m
Persian: شناسی‎ (fa) (-šenâsi), ـلوژی‎ (-loži)
Polish: -logia (pl) f
Portuguese: -logia (pt) f
Romanian: -logie f
Russian: -ло́гия (ru) f (-lógija), -ве́дение (ru) n (-védenije), -зна́ние (ru) n (-znánije)
Sardinian: -logia f
Serbo-Croatian:
Cyrillic: -ло̀гија f
Roman: -lògija f
Sicilian: -luggìa (scn) f
Slovak: -lógia f
Slovene: -logija f
Spanish: -logía (es) f
Sundanese: -logi
Swedish: -logi (sv) c
Tagalog: -lohia
Tajik: -шиносӣ (-šinosī)
Tamil: -இயல் (-iyal)
Thai: -วิทยา (th) (-wíttáyaa)
Turkish: -loji (tr)
Ukrainian: -ло́гія f (-lóhija)
Urdu: یات‎ (-iyāt)
Uyghur: ـشۇناسلىق‎ (-shunasliq)
Uzbek: -shunoslik, -logiya
Vietnamese: học (vi) (學 (vi))
Walloon: -lodjeye (wa) f
Welsh: -leg
Zazaki: -loci f

speech

German: -teiler m (set of works)
Norwegian:
Bokmål: -logi (no)

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Translations to be checked

Irish: ^{(please verify)} -lógacht f

Anagrams

Goly