Meaning & use
urology
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountablemedical
The branch of medicine that deals with the urinary system and the male reproductive organs.
Grammar: Uncountable, so it takes a singular verb: urology is a growing specialty.
Patterns
- a doctor of urology
- the department of urology
- study urology
She trained in urology after finishing her surgical residency.
The hospital opened a new urology unit last spring.
Urology deals with problems such as kidney stones and bladder infections.
noununcountablemedical
The urinary and reproductive system as a medical area of the body.
Grammar: Used in the names of hospital departments or services rather than for the organs themselves.
Patterns
- be referred to urology
- the urology department
My father was referred to urology for further tests.
The urology clinic is on the third floor.
Common combinations
- urology department
- The urology department handles most urinary cases in the region.
- a urology specialist
- A urology specialist examined him the next morning.
- train in urology
- She decided to train in urology rather than general surgery.
- refer someone to urology
- The family doctor referred him to urology for a scan.
Word family
- urologist noun
- A doctor who treats urinary and male reproductive problems.
- urological adjective
- Relating to urology, as in a urological condition.
Commonly confused: urology or nephrology?
urology vs nephrology
Nephrology is the study of the kidneys specifically; urology covers the whole urinary tract and male reproductive system, and is also a surgical specialty.
Practice
Which sentence uses "urology" correctly?
Choose one answer.
"Urology" is an uncountable noun naming a medical specialty, so it fits after a preposition like "to": sent to urology. The other options use it as a verb or drop the preposition, which is not possible.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “urology”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.