forestry

forestry — noun

1. the work or study of growing, managing, and protecting forests and the trees in

1.nounB2
Definition

the work or study of growing, managing, and protecting forests and the trees in them

Example

Eli studied forestry at university and now works for the national park service.

study + forestry (academic subject)

The government introduced new rules to support sustainable forestry across the region.

sustainable forestry (collocation)

Common collocations
  • sustainable forestry
  • forestry industry
  • forestry management
  • commercial forestry
  • forestry worker
  • forestry degree
  • forestry department
  • forestry commission
Synonyms
  • silviculture

    A more technical, narrower term focusing specifically on the growth and cultivation of trees rather than the full range of forest management activities

  • forest management

    More practical in tone, emphasising the operational decisions about how a forest is used and cared for

  • woodland management

    Often used for smaller or non-commercial wooded areas rather than large forests

Antonyms
  • deforestation

    The removal or clearing of forests, which is the opposite of maintaining or cultivating them

Usage Note

Forestry is an uncountable noun and is typically used as a field of study or industry. It often appears before another noun to describe a related role or sector, e.g. forestry worker, forestry degree, forestry department.

Common Mistakes

The forestry is full of wildlife.
The forest is full of wildlife.
Forestry refers to the practice or study of managing forests, not to the forest land itself.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Forestry is the broadest term, covering the science, art, and practice of managing forests for timber, conservation, and recreation. Silviculture is a narrower, more technical subfield that focuses specifically on the growth, health, and composition of individual trees and forest stands — a forester might study forestry generally but take a specialist course in silviculture. Forest management refers to the planning and operational side: deciding when to harvest, where to plant, and how to balance economic and ecological goals. For example, a university department might offer a degree in forestry with a silviculture module, while a government agency hires forest management officers to oversee a national forest.

forestry ↗silvicultureforest management

Common collocations

Nouns

  • forestry sector
  • forestry worker
  • forestry degree
  • forestry department
  • forestry commission
  • forestry officer

Adverbs

  • sustainably

Phrases

  • work in forestry
  • study forestry
  • go into forestry

Prepositions

  • in forestry

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Forestry comes from the Old French word 'forest' (woodland), which itself traces back to the Latin 'forestis' — an adjective meaning 'outside,' used to describe woodland lying outside inhabited or cultivated areas. The English suffix '-ry' (from Old French '-erie') was added in the late 1600s to form 'forestry,' meaning the art or practice of managing forests.