Science & Scientists Vocabulary

a proposed explanation based on limited evidence as a starting point for investigation

“The scientist formed a hypothesis about the cause of the disease.”

Origin: Greek hypothesis `foundation, supposition` from hypo- `under` + thesis `placing`

based on observation or experience rather than theory or logic

“The study relied on empirical data collected over five years.”

Origin: Latin empiricus from Greek empeirikos `experienced` from empeiria `experience`

a typical example or pattern of something; a worldview underlying theories

“The discovery forced a paradigm shift in how we understand the universe.”

Origin: Greek paradeigma `pattern, example` from paradeiknynai `to show side by side`

a statement accepted as true as the basis for argument or inference

“It is an axiom of geometry that parallel lines never meet.”

Origin: Greek axioma `what is thought fitting` from axios `worthy`

a thing suggested or assumed as true as the basis for reasoning

“Einstein's postulate that light speed is constant revolutionized physics.”

Origin: Latin postulatum `thing requested` from postulare `to demand, request`

a general proposition proved by a chain of reasoning

“The Pythagorean theorem describes the relationship between sides of a right triangle.”

Origin: Greek theorema `speculation, proposition` from theorein `to look at, contemplate`

something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected

“The anomaly in the data suggested a flaw in the experimental design.”

Origin: Greek anomalia `unevenness, irregularity` from anomalos `uneven` from an- `not` + homalos `even`

a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction; an agent of change

“The protest served as a catalyst for political reform.”

Origin: Greek katalysis `dissolution` from katalyein `to dissolve` from kata- `down` + lyein `to loosen`

a measure of disorder or randomness in a system; gradual decline into disorder

“Without maintenance, the garden fell into entropy.”

Origin: German Entropie from Greek en- `within` + trope `transformation, turning`

the combination of ideas to form a theory; the production of chemical compounds

“Her synthesis of different philosophical traditions was groundbreaking.”

Origin: Greek synthesis `a putting together` from syntithenai `to place together` from syn- `together` + tithenai `to place`

the gradual absorption of ideas or knowledge; movement of molecules through a membrane

“He seemed to learn languages by osmosis, simply from being around speakers.”

Origin: Greek osmos `a push, impulse` + -osis denoting a process or condition

a mutually beneficial relationship between different organisms or groups

“The business partnership developed into a true symbiosis.”

Origin: Greek symbiosis `living together` from symbioun `to live together` from syn- `together` + bios `life`

a complete change in form or character

“The company underwent a metamorphosis from startup to industry leader.”

Origin: Greek metamorphosis `transformation` from metamorphoun `to transform` from meta- `change` + morphe `form`

the classification of things according to their characteristics

“The biologist developed a new taxonomy for classifying the species.”

Origin: French taxonomie from Greek taxis `arrangement` + -nomia `method, system`

the system of names or terms used in a particular field

“Medical nomenclature can be confusing for patients.”

Origin: Latin nomenclatura `calling of names` from nomen `name` + calare `to call`

a category in biological classification ranking above species

“Humans belong to the genus Homo.”

Origin: Latin genus `birth, race, kind` from the root gen- `to beget, produce`

native and restricted to a certain place; regularly found among particular people

“The disease was endemic to the tropical region.”

Origin: Greek endemos `native` from en- `in` + demos `people, district`

a disease prevalent over a whole country or the world

“The pandemic spread across continents within months.”

Origin: Greek pandemos `pertaining to all people` from pan- `all` + demos `people`

the cause or origin of a disease or condition

“The etiology of the illness remained a mystery to researchers.”

Origin: Greek aitiologia `giving a reason` from aitia `cause` + -logia `study of`

the likely course or outcome of a disease or situation

“The doctor gave a positive prognosis for full recovery.”

Origin: Greek prognosis `foreknowledge` from progignoskein `to know beforehand` from pro- `before` + gignoskein `to know`

a collection of beliefs or practices mistakenly regarded as being based on scientific method

“Astrology is often considered a pseudoscience.”

Origin: Greek pseudo- `false` + Latin scientia `knowledge` from scire `to know`

relating to, measuring, or measured by the quantity of something

“The research focused on quantitative analysis of the data.”

Origin: Medieval Latin quantitativus from Latin quantitas `quantity` from quantus `how much`