palaeontology

UK: /ˌpæliɒnˈtɒlədʒi/

Inflections of 'palaeontology' (n): npl: palaeontologies (UK)

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

palaeontology / ˌpælɪɒnˈtɒlədʒɪ/ noun

1. the study of fossils to determine the structure and evolution of extinct animals and plants and the age and conditions of deposition of the rock strata in which they are found
   See also palaeobotany

Etymology: 19th Century: from palaeo- + onto- + -logy

palaeontological / ˌpælɪˌɒntəˈlɒdʒɪk^əl/ adjective

ˌpalaeonˈtologist noun

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

pa•le•on•tol•o•gy /ˌpeɪliənˈtɑlədʒi/   n. [uncountable]

1. Paleontology the science that deals with the forms of life existing long ago, as represented by their fossils.

pa•le•on•tol•o•gist, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pa•le•on•tol•o•gy  (pā′lē ən tol′ə jē or, esp. Brit., pal′ē-), n., pl. -gies  for 2.

1. Paleontology the science of the forms of life existing in former geologic periods, as represented by their fossils.
2. a treatise on paleontology.

• French paléontologie. See pale- ontology
• 1830–40;

pa•le•on•to•log•ic  (pā′lē on′tl oj′ik or, esp. Brit., pal′ē-), pa′le•on′to•log′i•cal, adj.  pa′le•on′to•log′i•cal•ly, adv. 
pa′le•on•tol′o•gist, n.