Meteorological: why a weather word points to the sky
Trace meteorological through meteorology to Greek words for things above us, with clear examples and a distinction between the noun and adjective.
Meteorological is an adjective: it describes something connected with meteorology, the science of the atmosphere and weather. A meteorological report might discuss rainfall, wind or temperature; it is not necessarily about objects arriving from space.
How the word reaches back to Greek
The noun meteorology traces through French to Greek meteōrologia, a discussion of things high above us. Its components connect the idea of something aloft with discussion or study. The modern weather meaning preserves that upward-looking perspective.
Etymonline dates English meteorology to the 1610s. That date belongs to the noun. The references cited here do not establish the first English use of the adjective meteorological, so the two dates should not be treated as interchangeable.
Recognizing the word in a sentence
- “The hikers checked meteorological reports before crossing the ridge.” Here it means reports about weather conditions.
- “The station keeps meteorological records.” Here the adjective identifies the kind of observations being stored.
The useful distinction is grammatical: meteorology names the field, while meteorological describes something related to it. Merriam-Webster provides the modern definition and adjective form.