geography

noun

ge·​og·​ra·​phy jē-ˈä-grə-fē How to pronounce geography (audio)
plural geographies
1
: a science that deals with the description, distribution, and interaction of the diverse physical, biological, and cultural features of the earth's surface
2
: the geographic features of an area
3
: a treatise on geography
4
a
: a delineation or systematic arrangement of constituent elements : configuration
the philosophers … have tried to construct geographies of human reasonTimes Literary Supplement
b
: makeup sense 1
her emotional geography

Examples of geography in a Sentence

studying the geography of the western United States the geography of the region matches ancient descriptions of the location of the lost city
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.
Although for this global citizen, home is not a singular place but an evolving idea — one that’s shaped by geography, culture, tradition and sensory experiences. Amy Carleton, Charlotte Observer, 11 Mar. 2025 Brandy and Cognac are closely related—Cognac is actually a type of brandy—but their differences come down to geography, production rules, and flavor profiles. Emily Price, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025 The Heartland is a political and economic organ that transcends geography, an idea shaped by our own worldviews. Nicholas Lalla, WIRED, 4 Mar. 2025 In most cases, managers and teams should decide on the best working model for them rather than enforcing a companywide mandate for thousands of people in different geographies and departments. Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for geography

Word History

Etymology

Latin geographia, from Greek geōgraphia, from geōgraphein to describe the earth's surface, from geō- + graphein to write — more at carve

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of geography was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Geography.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/geography. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

geography

noun
ge·​og·​ra·​phy jē-ˈäg-rə-fē How to pronounce geography (audio)
plural geographies
1
: a science that deals with the location of living and nonliving things on earth and the way they affect one another
2
: the natural parts of an area
the geography of the western U.S.
geographer
-fər
noun
geographic
ˌjē-ə-ˈgraf-ik
adjective
or geographical
-i-kəl
geographically
-i-k(ə-)lē
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on geography

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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