Meanings
nounarcology (countable and uncountable, plural arcologies)
plural arcologies
- uncountableurban studiesUrban development theory proposed by Paolo Soleri involving three-dimensional building methods and efficient use of space and resources.
- countableAn extremely large building or complex, sufficient to maintain an internal ecology as well as an extremely high human population density.
Behind the port lay the city, factory domes dominated by the vast cubes of corporate arcologies.
1984, William Gibson, Neuromancer (Sprawl; book 1), New York, N.Y.: Ace Books, →ISBN, page 6
Origin
Blend of architecture + ecology, coined by Italian architect Paolo Soleri in 1969.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
French arcologie
- arcologieurban development theory involving efficient use of space and resources
German Arkologie
- Arkologieurban development theory involving efficient use of space and resources
Japanese アーコロジー
- アーコロジーurban development theory involving efficient use of space and resources
Korean 생태건축학
- 생태건축학 (saengtaegeonchukhak)urban development theory involving efficient use of space and resources
Polish arkologia
- arkologiaurban development theory involving efficient use of space and resources
Portuguese arcologia
- arcologiaurban development theory involving efficient use of space and resources
Russian арколо́гия
- арколо́гия (arkológija)urban development theory involving efficient use of space and resources
Turkish arkoloji
- arkolojiurban development theory involving efficient use of space and resources
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with arcology
technologypsychologybiologymethodologyecologypathologypharmacologytheologyastrologygeologyanthropologyarchaeologymythologyradiologytopologyanthologynanotechnologyideologyneurologycardiologydermatologymorphologyontologyapology
All rhymes →Anagrams
Cite this entry
APA
arcology. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/arcology
MLA
“arcology.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/arcology. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “arcology,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/arcology.
Source: arcology on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.