Definition of ecologist

The word "ecologist" emerged in the late 19th century as a direct derivative of "ecology." Ecology, coined in 1866 by German biologist Ernst Haeckel, combined the Greek words "oikos" (house) and "logos" (study). Thus, ecology meant "the study of the household of nature," encompassing the interactions between living organisms and their environment. "Ecologist" simply became the natural term for someone who studies ecology, highlighting the burgeoning field and its focus on the complex web of life on Earth.