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.
Jacklynn excelled in history at school, considered studying archaeology before choosing fashion design at university and spent her teenage years enjoying antique sales, car boot sales and Antiques Roadshow. — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2026 Noujaim, a specialist in Islamic art history and archaeology, was most recently director of the department of Islamic art and heritage at the Louvre in Paris and chief of the French Grand Department of Islamic Art Heritage. — News Desk, Artforum, 7 Oct. 2026 Abdulkarim, a professor of archaeology and history at the University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, oversaw the operation as director-general of Syria's Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026 The path contains extraordinary landscapes, archaeology, food and culture long before the moon's shadow arrives. — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 3 Oct. 2026 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

archaeologist
archaeology
archaeomagnetism
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Cite this Entry

“Archaeology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/archaeology. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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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

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about archaeology

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