So… What Exactly Is an -Ology?
Ever stumble upon a word ending in “-ology” and think, wow, that sounds smart—but what does it actually mean? You’re definitely not the only one. Sure, we all know words like biology, psychology, and geology. But then someone mentions apiology, and your brain just… freezes.
That’s where this Ology Vocabulary Quiz comes in—to clear up the mystery and toss in a few fun curveballs along the way.
The suffix “-ology” comes from the Greek word logos, meaning “word” or “discourse.” Over time, it evolved in English to mean “the study of.” So basically, any “-ology” is just a fancy way of saying the study of something. And humans will study anything—from clouds to cheese to clowns (yes, all real -ologies).
So whether you’re a trivia buff, a curious learner, or just here to flex your superior vocabulary, you’re in exactly the right spot.
Common -Ologies You Should Know
Humans love organizing and naming things. If something exists, someone’s probably studied it—and then gave it an “-ology” name.
Now, fair warning: some of these sound totally made up. Take oenology, for example—it’s not from a fantasy novel, it’s the study of wine. And horology? Not about horses—it’s the study of clocks and timekeeping.
Here’s a quick list of familiar -ologies you might already recognize:
- Biology – the study of living organisms
- Psychology – the study of the human mind and behavior
- Geology – the study of Earth, rocks, and landforms
- Sociology – the study of human societies
- Anthropology – the study of humans and cultures
- Ecology – the study of how living things interact with their environment
- Astrology – not a science, but still famous—the study of how stars and planets are said to influence human lives
- Criminology – the study of crime and criminal behavior
And if you think those are interesting, wait until you meet philematology (the study of kissing), cynology (the study of dogs), and dendrology (the study of trees).
By the end, you’ll not only sound smarter—you’ll have a few new trivia gems up your sleeve.
How to Play the Ology Vocabulary Quiz
Here’s how it works:
- Read each question and its four answer choices carefully.
- Pick the one you think fits best.
- After every question, you’ll see a quick explanation—so even if you get it wrong, you’ll walk away a little smarter.
- There are 24 questions total, each one adding points to your final score.
- Your results will show how many you nailed—and there’s even a fun bonus question waiting for you in the comments.
Some of these “-ology” words are totally obvious (like volcanology—you can probably guess that one). But others, like speleology or rheology, might throw you for a loop.
So go with your gut, take your best guesses, and don’t sweat perfection. The goal isn’t just to get every answer right—it’s to discover a few new fascinating fields of study along the way.
Are you ready to see how many -ologies you can identify (or hilariously misinterpret)?
Take your time, have fun, and hit that first question to begin your quiz adventure!
