endocrinology

noun

en·​do·​cri·​nol·​o·​gy ˌen-də-kri-ˈnä-lə-jē How to pronounce endocrinology (audio)
-ˌkrī-
: a branch of medicine concerned with the structure, function, and disorders of the endocrine glands
endocrinologist
ˌen-də-kri-ˈnä-lə-jist How to pronounce endocrinology (audio)
-ˌkrī-
noun

Examples of endocrinology 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.
Gopalan, for her part, completed a Ph.D. in nutrition and endocrinology and specialized in the study of breast cancer. —Evan Osnos, The New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2024 Reporters spoke with more than 50 experts – in nutrition, endocrinology, psychology, exercise physiology and neuroscience – and people who are intimately familiar with the challenges of extra pounds. —Sara Chernikoff, USA TODAY, 26 Sep. 2024 However, lab research suggests that EGCG blocks pathways involved in tumor formation, says Dr. James Segars, a cancer researcher and head of the reproductive endocrinology unit at Johns Hopkins. —Matt Fuchs, TIME, 9 Sep. 2024 The effect of intermittent fasting diets on body weight and composition International journal of endocrinology. —Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 14 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for endocrinology 

Word History

Etymology

probably borrowed from Italian endocrinologia, from endocrine endocrine entry 1 + -o- -o- + -logia -logy

Note: According to some sources coined by the Italian physician Nicola Pende (1880-1970) in 1909 (e.g., in Garabed Eknoyan, "Emergence of the concept of endocrine function and endocrinology," Advances in Chronic Kidney Disease, vol. 11, no. 4 [October, 2004], p. 375), though without bibliographic citation. Pende used the word in the title of his treatise Endocrinologia: patologia e clinica degli organi a secrezione interna (Milan and Bologna, 1916).

First Known Use

circa 1913, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of endocrinology was circa 1913

Dictionary Entries Near endocrinology

endocrinologic

endocrinology

endocrinopath

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Endocrinology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/endocrinology. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

Medical Definition

endocrinology

noun
en·​do·​cri·​nol·​o·​gy ˌen-də-kri-ˈnäl-ə-jē, -ˌkrī- How to pronounce endocrinology (audio)
plural endocrinologies
: a science dealing with the endocrine glands
endocrinologist
-jəst How to pronounce endocrinology (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on endocrinology

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about endocrinology

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

9 Superb Owl Words

15 Words That Used to Mean Something Different
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
little chihuahua dressing like a turkey for thanksgiving
Is That Gratitude or Attitude? A Thanksgiving Quiz Decide which words express gratitude and which gi...