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Ethological: meaning, definitions and examples

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ethological

 

[ ˌiːθəˈlɒdʒɪkəl ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

animal behavior

Ethological refers to the scientific study of animal behavior, particularly in natural environments. This branch of study focuses on how animals interact with each other and their surroundings. Ethology examines various aspects of behavior, including mating rituals, social structures, and survival strategies. It aims to understand the evolutionary significance of these behaviors and how they contribute to the overall fitness of a species.

Synonyms

behavioral, instinctive, zoological

Examples of usage

  • Ethological studies provide insights into the social dynamics of wolf packs.
  • The ethological approach sheds light on the mating behaviors of various bird species.
  • Researchers used an ethological perspective to analyze how urban environments impact animal behavior.

Translations

Translations of the word "ethological" in other languages:

🇵🇹 etológico

🇮🇳 नैतिकीय

🇩🇪 ethologisch

🇮🇩 etologis

🇺🇦 етологічний

🇵🇱 etologiczny

🇯🇵 生態学的

🇫🇷 éthologique

🇪🇸 etológico

🇹🇷 etolojik

🇰🇷 생태학적

🇸🇦 سلوكي

🇨🇿 etologický

🇸🇰 etologický

🇨🇳 行为的

🇸🇮 etološki

🇮🇸 líffræðilegur

🇰🇿 этикалық

🇬🇪 ეთოლოგიური

🇦🇿 etoloji

🇲🇽 etológico

Word origin

The term 'ethological' is derived from the field of ethology, which was established in the early 20th century. Ethology stems from the Greek words 'ethos,' meaning character or habit, and 'logia,' referring to the study of a subject. The discipline gained significant recognition with the work of key figures such as Konrad Lorenz and Nikolaas Tinbergen, who studied animal behavior in natural settings, emphasizing observation and the adaptive significance of behavior. The application of ethological principles has since extended beyond animals to understand human behavior, viewing it through an evolutionary lens and considering the biological underpinnings of actions and interactions. The term has evolved to encompass a wide range of studies related to behavioral patterns across species.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #34,714 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.