ecology
gb/ɪkˈɑləd͡ʒi/ us/ɪkˈɑləd͡ʒi/
B2
English
~ 6600
Senses
0 senses
Noun
technical
B2
entity
1
branch of biology about environments
The part of biology that studies how plants, animals, and other living things live together and with air, water, and land.
Usage pattern:
study [ecology]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "ecology" (the science) with "ecosystem" (the actual living system) or "environmentalism" (a social or political movement). Use "ecology" when talking about a field of study or research, as in "He studies ecology," not "He studies environmentalism."
Synonyms
environmental science (Broader field that includes chemistry, earth science, and policy as well as ecology.)
Collocations
study ecology
|ecology research
|ecology course
|ecology textbook
|department of ecology
Themes
science
|environment
|nature
Examples
- She decided to major in ecology at university.
- Recent advances in ecology help us understand how climate change affects wildlife.
- The conference brought together experts in marine ecology from around the world.
- His work in plant ecology focuses on how forests recover after fires.
- Ecology has become an important field for informing conservation policy.
Learner examples
- I want to study ecology at college.
- He teaches ecology in the biology department.
- Ecology helps us understand how animals and plants live together.
- She is doing ecology research in the rainforest.
- We used an ecology textbook in my science class.
Noun
B2
entity
2
environmental system of a place
All the plants, animals, and other living things in a place, and how they live together with the air, water, and land there.
Usage pattern:
the ecology of [a place]
Common mistake:
Learners often use "ecology" when "environment" would be more natural in everyday speech. Use "environment" for general surroundings ("the environment is polluted") and "ecology" when you want to focus on the system of relationships between living things and their surroundings ("the river’s ecology is changing").
Synonyms
ecosystem (Very close in meaning; "ecosystem" is often more common in everyday use when talking about a specific natural system.)
Antonyms
environmental destruction (Refers to the severe damage or breakdown of an ecology so that it no longer functions well.)
Collocations
the ecology of the forest
|fragile ecology
|delicate ecology
|local ecology
|urban ecology
|marine ecology
Themes
environment
|nature
|science
Examples
- Tourism can put a lot of pressure on the fragile ecology of small islands.
- The ecology of this wetland has changed dramatically over the last fifty years.
- Dams can disrupt the river’s ecology by blocking fish migration routes.
- Oil spills can damage the marine ecology for decades.
- Protecting the local ecology is a key goal of the new national park.
Learner examples
- The ecology of the lake is very sensitive.
- Fish farms can change the ecology of the sea.
- Cutting down trees hurts the forest’s ecology.
- The ecology of this river is rich and healthy.
- Pollution is harming the ecology of the bay.
Noun
B2
entity
3
concern for the environment
Care for nature and support for laws and actions that protect the air, water, and land.
Usage pattern:
interest in [ecology]
Common mistake:
In English, "environmentalism" is usually preferred for the political and social movement, but many learners overuse "ecology" here because of their first language. In formal writing, say "environmentalism" ("She is active in environmentalism"), not "She is active in ecology."
Synonyms
environmentalism (More precise and more common when referring to the social or political movement focused on protecting the environment.)
Antonyms
environmental neglect (Suggests not caring about environmental protection or damage to nature.)
Collocations
interest in ecology
|ecology movement
|ecology groups
|care about ecology
|concern for ecology
Themes
environment
|politics
|society
|nature
Examples
- Her strong interest in ecology led her to join several climate action groups.
- The party built its campaign around ecology and social justice.
- In the 1970s, ecology became a powerful political theme in many European countries.
- The magazine focuses on ecology, sustainable living, and renewable energy.
- Workshops on ecology and recycling will be held for local residents.
Learner examples
- Young people today care a lot about ecology.
- He reads many books about ecology and climate change.
- The new law shows that the government takes ecology seriously.
- They started a club to talk about ecology and green ideas.
- Ecology is an important topic in this election.
Noun
formal
C1
entity
4
complex system of interactions
All the connected people, tools, or ideas in a system and how they affect each other, for example in media, business, or online life.
Usage pattern:
the ecology of [a system]
Common mistake:
Learners may think this use is always about nature. In academic and business writing, however, "ecology" can describe any complex system of relationships, even when no natural environment is involved (for example, "media ecology").
Synonyms
ecosystem (In business and tech writing, "ecosystem" is more common and slightly less academic than "ecology" for this metaphorical sense.)
Antonyms
simple structure (Highlights the lack of many interdependent parts or interactions that characterize an "ecology.")
Collocations
media ecology
|digital ecology
|information ecology
|organizational ecology
|innovation ecology
Themes
society
|technology
|business
Examples
- The company dominates the entire digital ecology of music streaming.
- Changes in the media ecology have transformed how people get their news.
- Any new app has to fit into the existing ecology of online tools and platforms.
- Urban planners must consider the social ecology of neighborhoods, not just their physical design.
- The book explores the ecology of innovation in Silicon Valley.
Learner examples
- Social media is part of the new media ecology.
- Many start-ups try to change the digital ecology.
- The ecology of online games is very complex.
- The city’s social ecology has changed in the last ten years.
- We must understand the whole business ecology, not just one company.
Grammar
Dictionary form
ecology
IPA
GB/ɪkˈɑləd͡ʒi/
US/ɪkˈɑləd͡ʒi/
Syllables & stress
eco - logy (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (logy)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: ecology
- Plural: ecologies, ecology
Word family
Expressions
deep ecology
1/dˈip ɪkˈɑləd͡ʒi/
fixed phrase
technical
radical environmental philosophy
A way of thinking about nature that says all living things are equally important and that humans must strongly change how they live to protect the Earth.
Examples
- Deep ecology argues that humans have no right to destroy other forms of life for their own profit.
- Her views on conservation are strongly influenced by deep ecology.
- The course includes a unit on deep ecology and environmental ethics.
human ecology
1/hjˈumən ɪkˈɑləd͡ʒi/
fixed phrase
technical
study of humans and environments
A field of study that looks at how people live with nature, with other people, and in cities and buildings, and how these things affect each other.
Examples
- Her research in human ecology focuses on how cities influence family life.
- The department of human ecology offers courses on housing, nutrition, and community development.
- Human ecology examines how culture, economy, and environment are connected.
industrial ecology
1/ɪndˈʌstɹiəl ɪkˈɑləd͡ʒi/
fixed phrase
technical
design of greener industrial systems
A field that tries to make factories and industries work more like nature, where waste is used again and damage to the environment is low.
Examples
- Industrial ecology promotes recycling and energy efficiency across entire supply chains.
- The company used principles of industrial ecology to cut its waste by half.
- Industrial ecology looks at how one factory’s waste can become another factory’s resource.
media ecology
1/mˈidiə ɪkˈɑləd͡ʒi/
fixed phrase
technical
study of media environments
A field that looks at how TV, the internet, phones, and other media change how people live, think, and communicate.
Examples
- Media ecology explores how different technologies create different ways of experiencing the world.
- Her article in media ecology examines the impact of smartphones on attention spans.
- The course in media ecology covers social media, television, and virtual reality.
political ecology
1/pəlˈɪtɪkəl ɪkˈɑləd͡ʒi/
fixed phrase
technical
politics of environmental change
A field that studies how governments, companies, and power affect nature and the use of land, water, and other resources.
Examples
- The book offers a political ecology of deforestation in the Amazon.
- Political ecology connects local environmental problems with global power structures.
- She took a seminar on political ecology and climate justice.