Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
palaeontology
noun
/ˌpeɪliˈɒntlədʒi/
Definition
The scientific study of the history of life on Earth through the examination of plant and animal fossils.
Examples
- Palaeontology helps us understand how life forms have changed over millions of years.
- The palaeontologist discovered a new species of dinosaur in the fossil record.
- Studying palaeontology can reveal information about past climates and environments.
Meaning
Palaeontology combines aspects of biology, geology, and archaeology to understand the evolution of species and ancient ecosystems.
Synonyms
- fossil science
- archaeobiology
