ologies

Ology is a suffix used to name a branch of knowledge or a science. It comes from the Greek -logia meaning "study of." In English, -ology attaches to a root that denotes the subject, yielding a noun for the field or discipline (for example, biology, geology, psychology). The plural form "ologies" is used when referring to several fields formed with this suffix.

Formation and scope: Most ologies are formed by adding -ology to a root that represents the subject of study, often derived from Greek or Latin. Some common examples are biology (the study of life), geology (the science of the Earth), ecology (the study of organisms in relation to their environment), anthropology (study of humans), sociology (study of society), psychology (study of the mind), theology (study of divine matters). Medical disciplines such as cardiology, neurology, ophthalmology also end with -ology; note that not all related terms follow this pattern—linguistics, for instance, ends with -istics.

Notable notes: The term covers natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and professional fields; the methodologies and evidentiary standards vary across ologies. New ologies arise with advances in knowledge, producing terms such as paleontology, climatology, gastroenterology, and criminology.