exobiology

noun

exo·​bi·​ol·​o·​gy ˌek-sō-bī-ˈä-lə-jē How to pronounce exobiology (audio)
: a branch of biology concerned with the search for life outside the earth and with the effects of extraterrestrial environments on living organisms
exobiological
ˌek-sō-ˌbī-ə-ˈlä-ji-kəl How to pronounce exobiology (audio)
adjective
exobiologist
ˌek-sō-bī-ˈä-lə-jist How to pronounce exobiology (audio)
noun

Examples of exobiology 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.
Both shared an academic interest in ferns and knew that NASA was funding research on exobiology, the study of potential life beyond Earth. — Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2023 Green introduces us to ideas from exobiology (the study of life on other worlds) and researchers who study exoplanets (worlds beyond our solar system), pointing out that these fields rely as heavily on science fiction as on mathematical probabilities. — Annalee Newitz, Washington Post, 27 Apr. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of exobiology was in 1960

Rhymes for exobiology

See All Rhymes for exobiology

Browse Nearby Words

exobiology
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Exobiology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exobiology. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

Medical Definition

exobiology

noun
exo·​bi·​ol·​o·​gy -bī-ˈäl-ə-jē How to pronounce exobiology (audio)
plural exobiologies
: a branch of biology concerned with the search for life outside the earth and with the effects of extraterrestrial environments on living organisms

called also astrobiology

exobiological
-ˌbī-ə-ˈläj-i-kəl How to pronounce exobiology (audio)
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on exobiology

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about exobiology

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 More

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

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

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

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Words You Always Have to Look Up
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular Features

See More

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

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden
See More

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
dog-in-disguise
Rhyme Disguise Quiz Pair up words that look different but sound alike.
See All