What does arachnology mean?
Arachnology is the branch of zoology devoted to the scientific study of arachnids, a class of joint-legged invertebrates that includes spiders, scorpions, pseudoscorpions, harvestmen, ticks, and mites. Specialists in the field, known as arachnologists, examine these animals' anatomy, behaviour, ecology, evolution, and classification, often discovering and formally naming species new to science. Although spiders are the group most people associate with the discipline, arachnology encompasses the entire class, and work on medically significant creatures such as ticks and venomous spiders gives it practical importance beyond pure curiosity. The word derives from the Greek 'arachnē', meaning spider, combined with '-logy', meaning study. It is a formal, scholarly term that appears chiefly in academic writing, museum contexts, and natural-history journalism rather than casual speech. For anyone intrigued by the remarkable diversity of eight-legged creatures, arachnology names both a thriving scientific profession and a centuries-old tradition of inquiry.
nounThe branch of zoology that deals with the scientific study of arachnids, including spiders, scorpions, ticks, and mites.
- The branch of zoology concerned with the scientific study of arachnids (spiders, scorpions, pseudoscorpions, harvestmen, ticks, and mites).
"Her lifelong fascination with spiders led her to pursue a career in arachnology."
"After decades of fieldwork in the Amazon, she became one of the world's leading authorities in arachnology."
"The museum's new exhibit on arachnology features live tarantulas and a collection of rare scorpion specimens."
Rarely pluralized; the singular form is almost always used, even when referring to multiple branches or traditions within the field.
"Comparative studies across different national schools of arachnologies remain uncommon in the literature."
Spiders have been around for roughly 300 million years, yet scientists are still describing new species at such a pace that arachnology remains one of the most active frontiers in zoology.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of arachnology
The word arachnology comes from the Greek 'arachnē' (ἀράχνη), meaning spider or weaver, joined to the Greek-derived suffix '-logy', denoting a field of study. In Greek mythology, Arachne was a skilled weaver who was transformed into a spider, giving her name to the entire class of arachnids. The same root underlies related terms such as 'arachnid', 'arachnophobia', and 'arachnoid'. The term entered scientific English as formal zoological classification developed in the modern era.
Related word forms
How arachnology is actually used
A formal, technical term used mainly in academic, museum, and natural-history contexts rather than everyday conversation. It refers to the study of all arachnids, not only spiders, though spiders dominate the field in practice.
Easily confused with arachnology
Entomology is the study of insects, whereas arachnology is the study of arachnids such as spiders, scorpions, ticks, and mites.
Arachnophobia is an intense fear of spiders and other arachnids, while arachnology is their scientific study.