methodology

noun

meth·​od·​ol·​o·​gy ˌme-thə-ˈdä-lə-jē 

plural methodologies

1

: a body of methods, rules, and postulates employed by a discipline : a particular procedure or set of procedures

demonstrating library research methodology

the issue is massive revision of teaching methodology

—Bob Samples

2

: the analysis of the principles or procedures of inquiry in a particular field

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Methodology and Science

The methodology employed in an experiment is essential to its success, and bad methodology has spoiled thousands of research projects. So whenever a piece of research is published in a scientific or medical journal, the researchers always carefully describe their methodology; otherwise, other scientists couldn't possibly judge the quality of what they've done.

Synonyms

• course
• line
• policy
• procedure
• program

Examples of methodology in a Sentence

He blamed the failure of their research on poor methodology.

for solving crossword puzzles my usual methodology is to begin by filling in all of the answers I'm reasonably sure of

Recent Examples on the Web

Share your methodology, client wins, and personal journey. —Jodie Cook, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024

The Environmental Protection Agency has not found evidence to support this link, but its methodology differed from the IARC’s. —Aria Bendix, NBC News, 15 Nov. 2024

In the future, researchers believe similar dating methodologies could one day be applied to not just other meteorites, but planets. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 14 Nov. 2024

The big picture: Selzer has a historically great pulse of Iowa, thanks to her thorough methodology, according to RealClear Polling. —Linh Ta, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin methodologia, from Latin methodus + -logia -logy

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined at sense 1