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Informally, an ology is a field of study or academic discipline ending in the suffix -ology. The word ology is therefore a back-formation from the names of these disciplines. Such words are formed from Greek or Latin roots with the terminal -logy derived from the Greek suffix -λογια (-logia), speaking, from λεγειν (legein), to speak. The word ology is thus misleading as the 'o' is actually part of the word stem that receives the -logy ending. For example, the bio part of biology stems from Greek βιος (bios), life. This is why some of the words do not end in -ology (such as mineralogy).

Not all words ending in -ology are ologies in the above sense. In some words such as tautology and haplology, the -logy suffix is from the Greek λογοσ, word, and denotes not a field of study but a type of speech or writing. For example, haplology means the mistake of saying one letter, syllable or word when two or more are required, as in the example of pronouncing the word "February" somewhat like "Febuary". Even 'technology' isn't a discipline as such, more a description of an improvement.

It should also be pointed out that some words mean to study something, but aren't called ologies -- midwifery is one example.

A famous British television commercial of the 1980s has a Jewish student phoning his grandmother to confirm his exam results. He is disappointed that he has only passed Sociology, but his grandmother will have none of it. "Anthony," she insists, "if you get an ology, you're a scientist!"

Here is a list of some ologies:

please add more examples of real fields of study ending with -ology to this list

Acarology[?], the study of ticks and mites
Actinology[?], the study of the effect of light on chemicals
Actinobiology[?], the study of the effects of radiation upon living organisms
Aerology[?], the study of the free atmosphere[?]
Aeropalynology[?], the study of pollen grains and spores (palynomorphs) in the atmosphere
Aetiology, the medical study of the causation of disease
Agnoiology[?], the study of things of which we are by nature ignorant, or of things which cannot be known
Algology[?], the study of algae
Allergology[?], the study of the causes and treatment of allergies; a branch of medicine
Andrology[?], the study of male health and disease
Angelology[?], the study of angels
Angiology[?], the study of the anatomy of blood and lymph vascular systems[?]
Anthropology, the study of humans
Arachnology, the study of spiders and their kin
Archaeology, the study of ancient history
Assyriology[?], the study of the Assyrians
Astrology, the study of stars' influences on human affairs
Autecology[?], the study of the ecology of any individual species
Axiology, the study of the nature of values and value judgements
Bacteriology, the study of bacteria
Balneology[?], the scientific study of baths, bathing[?] and of their application to disease
Bioclimatology[?], the study of the effects of climate on living organisms
Biology, the study of life
Biometeorology[?], the study of the effects of atmospheric conditions on living organisms
Biotechnology,
Campanology, the study and the art of bell ringing
Cardiology, the study of the heart
Cerealogy[?], the study of crop circles
Cetology[?], the study of marine mammals
Chorology, the study of the relationship of biological or other phenomena to their locations
Chronology the study of things in order of time or the study of time
Climatology, the study of the climate
Cosmology, the study of the cosmos or our place in it.
Criminology, the scientific study of crime.
Cryptology, the study of how to encrypt and decrypt secret messages
Cryptozoology, the study of animals that may or may not be mythical
Cytology, the study of biological cells
Deltiology[?], the study of, but more often the collecting of picture postcards
Demonology, the study of demons
Dendrology[?], the study of trees
Dendrochronology, the study of the age of trees and the records in their rings
Dermatology, the field of medicine that deals with the skin
Ecclesiology[?], the study of Church architecture[?] and decoration, or separately the study of the Christian Church[?]
Ecology, the study of the environment
Ecophysiology[?],
Egyptology, the study of the ancient Egyptians
Electrophysiology,
Embryology, the study of embryos
Emetology[?], the study or knowledge of emetics
Endocrinology, the study of internal secretory glands
Enigmatology, the study of enigmas
Entomology, the study of insects
Enzymology[?], the study of enzymes
Epidemiology, the study of epidemics
Epistemology, the study of the nature and origins of knowledge
Eschatology, a branch of theology concerned with the final events in the history of the world or of mankind
Ethnology, the study of race
Ethnomusicology, the study of music in society, usually non-western music
Ethology, the study of animal behaviour
Etiology, same as Aetiology
Etymology, the study of word origins
Exobiology, the study of life in outer space
Gastrology or Gastroenterology - diseases of stomach and intestines
Genecology[?], the study of genetic differences in relation to the environment
Genealogy (commonly misspelt as "geneology"), the study of relationships within families particularly with a view to constructing family trees
Geochronology, the study of the age of the Earth
Geology, the study of the Earth
Gerontology[?], the study of old age
Glaciology, the study of glaciers
Grammatology[?], the study of writing systems
Graphology, the study of handwriting for the purpose of analysing the character of the writer
Gynaecology or Gynecology, the study of medicine relating to women, or of women in general
Hematology/Haematology, the study of blood
Helioseismology[?], the study of vibrations and oscillations in the Sun
Helminthology[?], the study of parasitic worms
Herbology[?], the study of the therapeutic use of plants
Herpetology, the study of reptiles
Histology, the study of living tissues
Histopathology[?], the study of the (microscopic) structure of diseased tissues
Historiology[?], the study of the writings and practices of historians
Horology, the study of making timepieces, measuring time and timekeeping
Hydrology, the study of water
Hydrogeology[?], the study of underground water
Ichthyology, the study of fish
Immunology, the study of the immune system
Japanology[?], the study of Japanese culture
Killology, the study of human beings killing other human beings (Grossman's Theory)
Koreanology[?], the study of Korea
Kremlinology[?], the study of communist Soviet Union
Kymatology[?], the study of waves or wave motions
Laryngology[?], the study of voice boxes
Limnology, the study of fresh water enviroments, particularly lakes
Lithology[?], the study of rocks
Lymphology[?], the study of the lymph system and glands
Malacology[?], the study of mollusks
Mammology[?], the study of mammals
Meteorology, the study of weather
Methodology[?], (properly) the study of methods
Metrology, the study of measurement
Mineralogy, the study of minerals
Morphology, the study of forms; more precisely the study of the grammatical structure of words, a branch of linguistics
Musicology, the study of music
Mycology , the study of fungi
Myology[?] the scientific study of muscles
Mythology, the study of myths
Nanotechnology, the study and design of machines at the molecular level
Neonatology[?], the study of diseases and the care of newborn infants; a branch of pediatrics/paediatrics
Nephology[?], the study of clouds
Nephrology, the study of the kidneys and their diseases, a branch of medicine
Neurology, the study of nerves
Neuropathology[?], the study of neural diseases
Neurophysiology[?]
Nosology, the study of diseases
Nostology[?], the study of ageing and senility, in relation to a return to childish characteristics in old age
Numerology, the study of numbers (often in a non-mathematical sense)
Oceanology, the study of oceans
Omphalology, facetious name for the non-existent medical specialty that treats of navels, which has been used in a manner similar to the way the word widget is used in economics textbooks
Oncology, the study of cancer
Ontology, the study of existence
Oology, the study of eggs
Ophthalmology, the study of the eyes
Organology, the study of musical instruments (not just organs); alternatively, the study of anatomical organs
Ornithology, the study of birds
Orology, the study of mountains and their mapping
Osteology[?], the study of bones
Palaentology, the study of ancient creatures
Paleoanthropology[?], the study of ancient humans and human origin
Palynology[?], the study of pollen
Parapsychology, the study of psychological events outside conventional scienc.
Pathology, the study of illness
Pekingology[?], the study of communist People's Republic of China
Petrology[?], the study of sedimentary organic matter in rocks
Pedology, the study of soil
Pharmacology, the study of drugs
Phenomenology, the study and science of phenomena as distinct from the science of actual existence or being; also a movement founded by Husserl which studies conscious experience without its metaphysical concerns
Phonology, the study of vocal sounds
Phrenology, the derivation of a persons character traits, by studying the shape of their skull
Physiology, the study of bodies, usually of animals
Planktology, the study of plankton
Primatology, the study of primates
Psychobiology[?], the study and psychology of organisms with regard to their functions and structures
Psychology, the study of mental processes in humans
Psychophysiology
Radiology, the study of rays, usually ionising radiation
Reflexology[?], originally the study of reflexes or of reflex responses; but see also non-study list
Rheology, the study of flow[?]
Rheumatology, the study of rheumatic diseases, a branch of medicine
Rhinology[?], the study of the nose and its diseases
Seismology, the study of earthquakes
Semiology the study of signs and symbols
Selenology[?], the study of the moon, a branch of astrology
Serology[?], the study of blood serum[?]
Sexology, the study of sex
Sinology[?], the study of China
Speleology, the study or exploration of caves
Sociology, the study of society
Technology, the study of the practical arts (but see above)
Teleology, the study of ends or final causes
Teratology, the study of wonders[?], or monsters
Theriology[?], the study of mammals
Theology, the study of God
Topology, the mathematical study of closeness and connectedness
Toxicology, the study of poisons
Traumatology, the study of wounds[?] and injuries[?] caused by accidents or assaults and their surgical treatment and repair; a branch of medicine
Tribology[?], the study of friction and lubrication
Typology[?], the study of classification
Urology, the study and treatment of diseases of the urogenital tract[?], a branch of medicine
Vexillology, the study of flags
Victimology, the study of victims of crime, often applied to characterizing the criminal
Virology, the study of viruses
Volcanology (also spelled vulcanology), the study of volcanoes and related phenomena (traps[?])
Xenobiology, the study of non-terrestrial life
Xylology[?], the study of wood
Zoology, the study of animals

Words ending in -ology that are not fields of study, and thus not "ologies" in the sense of this article, are:

Apology[?]
- a statement of regret.
- an explanation for or justification of beliefs.
Chronology is the arrangement or setting out of past events in order of occurrence; the recording of historical events in date sequence.
Doxology, a spoken or sung end of a prayer.
Eulogy, though not an -ology, is a commemoration of a person's life at his/her funeral.
Hagiology[?] is literature dealing with the life of a saint or, indeed, any revered person, a biography of an individual, rather than a study of saints, sainthood or saintliness in general.
Kibology, joke religion worshiping Kibo
Philology, the historical study of languages. This is not a ology in the strict sense, because it is not the study (-ologia) of love (philo-), but the love (philo-) of literature (logia).
Phraseology[?] is the way words are put together, therefore the style[?] being used in a sentence, or the set of phrases or the choice of words used by any particular group of people, a type of register, then, that reflects the form of language used in a certain social situation in which particular subjects are being discussed. Examples of register (phraseology) are: (obscene) slang, legal language (legalese), journalese[?], the jargon of the racecourse, or the special words or phrases used in certain occupations, as only a few of a very numerous category.
Reflexology[?], alternative method of massage, therapy or pressure on certain points of the sole of the feet as a means of relieving nervous tension
Scientology, the belief system/cult religion founded by L. Ron Hubbard, self-described as a study of knowledge.
Soteriology[?] is the doctrine of a coming end of time or of the world.
Tautology, a self-affirming truth.
Terminology, a set of words and/or phrases, usually in relation to some particular canon or field of study e.g. 'mathematical terminology'.
Tetralogy of Fallot, an abnormality of the heart consisting of four deformities that often occur together
Trilogy (although not strictly an -ology) is a body of writing[?] in three parts, as tetralogy[?] is that in four parts.