What does botany mean?
Botany is the branch of biology devoted to the scientific study of plants, encompassing their structure, growth, reproduction, physiology, classification, and ecological relationships, as well as their practical uses in medicine, agriculture, and industry. A student might pursue a degree in botany, while a field researcher might describe the botany of a remote island — that is, its characteristic plant life. The word carries a scholarly, slightly formal register; in casual speech people tend to say "plant science" or simply refer to plants themselves. Its practitioners are called botanists, and related adjectival forms include "botanic" and "botanical," familiar from botanical gardens worldwide. Derived ultimately from a Greek word for pasture or fodder, botany reflects humanity's long engagement with the green world — from identifying medicinal herbs to mapping ecosystems — making it both a precise academic discipline and a window into our dependence on plant life.
nounThe scientific study of plants, including their structure, physiology, classification, ecology, and economic uses.
- The branch of biology concerned with the scientific study of plant life.
- The plant life of a particular region, or the biological properties of a plant (less common).
"She studied botany at university before joining the herbarium at Kew."
"His passion for botany began with a childhood spent cataloguing wildflowers in the Alps."
"The expedition's notes on the botany of the island proved invaluable to later ecologists."
Before it was a science, the Greek root of "botany" meant pasture — plants were first classified, quite literally, as cattle fodder.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of botany
Botany entered English in the mid-17th century, borrowed from French "botanique," which derives from Latin "botanicus," itself taken from Greek "botanikos." The ultimate Greek root, "botanē," meant pasture, fodder, or herb — a reminder that early engagement with plants was largely agricultural and medicinal. Related forms include the adjective "botanic" and the noun "botanist."
Related word forms
How botany is actually used
A neutral, formal-academic term; in everyday conversation people more often say "plant science" or simply talk about "plants." The secondary sense referring to a region's plant life is somewhat dated, with "flora" now preferred.
Easily confused with botany
"Botany" is the noun naming the scientific study of plants, while "botanic" is an adjective meaning relating to plants, as in "botanic garden."