neontology

N1E1O1N1T1O1L1O1G2Y4

noun

The study of organisms living in the current era, as opposed to organisms that are extinct.

OriginEnglish onto- ← Ancient Greek νεο- (neo-) ← Proto-Hellenic *néwos →
Scrabble 14
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Meanings

nounneontology (uncountable)
  1. uncountablebiologyThe study of organisms living in the current era, as opposed to organisms that are extinct.

    Ontology comprises the study both of beings actually existing, and the study of ancient beings and of their fossil remains—neontology and palaeontology.

    1861 July 6, “Flourens on the Unity and Fixity of Species”, in British Medical Journal

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*nu
  2. Proto-Indo-European*néwos
  3. Proto-Hellenic*néwos
  4. Ancient Greekνέος (néos)
  5. Ancient Greekνεο- (neo-)
  6. Englishneo-
  7. Englishonto-
  8. Englishneontology

From neo- + onto- + -logy.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 近代生物学
  • 近代生物学the study of organisms living in the current era
Finnish neontologia
  • neontologiathe study of organisms living in the current era
French néontologie
  • néontologiethe study of organisms living in the current era
Hebrew נאונטולוגיה
  • נאונטולוגיהthe study of organisms living in the current era
Irish neointeolaíocht, nua-ointeolaíocht
  • neointeolaíochtthe study of organisms living in the current era
  • nua-ointeolaíochtthe study of organisms living in the current era
Polish neontologia
  • neontologiathe study of organisms living in the current era
Cite this entry
APA

neontology. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/neontology

MLA

“neontology.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/neontology. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “neontology,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/neontology.

Source: neontology on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.