archaeology

noun

ar·​chae·​ol·​o·​gy ˌär-kē-ˈä-lə-jē How to pronounce archaeology (audio)
variants or archeology
1
: the scientific study of material remains (such as tools, pottery, jewelry, stone walls, and monuments) of past human life and activities
2
: remains of the culture of a people : antiquities
the archaeology of the Incas
archaeological
ˌär-kē-ə-ˈlä-ji-kəl How to pronounce archaeology (audio)
adjective
archaeologically
ˌär-kē-ə-ˈlä-ji-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce archaeology (audio)
adverb
archaeologist
ˌär-kē-ˈä-lə-jist How to pronounce archaeology (audio)
noun

Examples of archaeology 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.
Here are three of our most recent eye-catching archaeology stories. — Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 21 Mar. 2025 Rights & Permissions Kate Wong is an award-winning science writer and senior editor at Scientific American focused on evolution, ecology, anthropology, archaeology, paleontology and animal behavior. — Kate Wong, Scientific American, 20 Mar. 2025 These included collection managers across disciplines, including anthropology, archaeology, botany, geology, ichthyology, entomology, herpetology and paleontology. — Bradley Wade Bishop, The Conversation, 17 Mar. 2025 Before joining the Discover team as an assistant editor in 2022, Sam studied journalism at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. human origins fossils archaeology anthropology 1 free article left Want More? — Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 5 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for archaeology

Word History

Etymology

French archéologie, from Late Latin archaeologia antiquarian lore, from Greek archaiologia, from archaio- + -logia -logy

First Known Use

1782, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of archaeology was in 1782

Phrases Containing archaeology

Rhymes for archaeology

See All Rhymes for archaeology

Browse Nearby Words

archaeolatry
archaeology
archaeomagnetism
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Archaeology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/archaeology. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

archaeology

noun
ar·​chae·​ol·​o·​gy
variants or archeology
ˌär-kē-ˈäl-ə-jē How to pronounce archaeology (audio)
: the science that deals with past human life as shown by fossil relics and the monuments and tools left by ancient peoples
archaeological
-kē-ə-ˈläj-i-kəl How to pronounce archaeology (audio)
adjective
archaeologist
-kē-ˈäl-ə-jəst How to pronounce archaeology (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on archaeology

Nglish: Translation of archaeology for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about archaeology

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