What does cartology mean?
Cartology is a relatively rare noun denoting the study of maps and the principles behind their creation, interpretation, and use. It functions largely as a synonym for the far more common term cartography, though some writers reserve it for the scholarly or theoretical side of the discipline — the history, criticism, and analysis of maps — rather than the practical craft of drafting them. The word derives from Greek roots: chartes, meaning a sheet of papyrus or a map, combined with the suffix -logy, indicating a field of study. Because it is uncommon, cartology often appears in historical writing about exploration, in museum and archival contexts, or where an author seeks a slightly elevated tone. For most modern purposes, including professional geography and navigation, cartography remains the standard choice, but knowing cartology is useful for reading older texts and appreciating the intellectual tradition behind mapmaking.
The study or science of maps and map-making, encompassing their design, history, and interpretation.
"Advances in satellite imaging have transformed modern cartology."
Rare in everyday use; cartography is the standard term.
The practical craft of drawing or compiling maps; map-making.
"He devoted his career to the cartology of remote mountain regions."
This sense overlaps almost entirely with cartography and is considerably less common.
As an uncountable mass noun referring to a field of study, cartology has no ordinary plural. A plural form would be highly unusual, appearing only in contrived contexts referring to multiple distinct systems or traditions of mapmaking.
"The conference compared the cartologies of different ancient civilizations."
Before 'cartography' became the go-to word, English speakers once reached for 'cartology' — a term so rare that even many dictionaries barely mention it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cartology
Cartology combines the Greek root chart- (from chartes, meaning a sheet of papyrus and later a map or chart) with the suffix -logy, from Greek logia, meaning study or discourse. It entered English as an learned formation parallel to cartography, which was borrowed from French cartographie in the 19th century. While cartography quickly became dominant, cartology survived only as a marginal variant, occasionally used to emphasize the scholarly study rather than the making of maps. Its cognates include chart, charter (via Latin charta), and other -logy words such as geology and chronology.
How cartology is actually used
Cartology is markedly rarer than its near-synonym cartography, which is the preferred term in both everyday and professional usage. Cartology tends to appear in historical, academic, or deliberately literary contexts. It is an uncountable noun and carries a neutral, formal register.
Easily confused with cartology
Cartography is the standard, far more common term for map-making itself, while cartology is a rarer synonym that emphasizes the scholarly or theoretical study of maps.