chronology

noun

chro·​nol·​o·​gy krə-ˈnä-lə-jē 

plural chronologies

1

: the science that deals with measuring time by regular divisions and that assigns to events their proper dates

2

: a chronological table, list, or account

a chronology of the author's works

3

: an arrangement (as of events) in order of occurrence

reconstruct the chronology of the trip

The book provides a chronology of events leading up to the American Civil War.

Did you know?

History is much more than a simple chronology of events, but keeping events in chronological order is the first essential step in thinking about it. When, for example, historians try to show how World War I prepared the way for World War II, tracking the chronology of the events in the years between the two wars can help in explaining a complicated historical era.

Synonyms

• account
• chronicle
• commentary
• commentaries
• history
• narration
• narrative
• record
• report
• story

Examples of chronology in a Sentence

We tried to reconstruct the chronology of the accident.

The book provides a chronology of the events leading up to the American Civil War.

Recent Examples on the Web

To look through his chronology of outfits is to see a throughline of historical intrigue with a contemporary application, bringing an almost anachronistic presence to an often hyper-cyclical fashion space. —Essence, 28 Sep. 2024

The Platform 2 seems to commence from the aftermath of that revolutionary gesture, even as the eventual reintroduction of a familiar face calls the chronology of events into question. —A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2024

The later chronology, meanwhile, is sometimes blurred by the wearying cyclical repetition of addiction itself. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 21 Nov. 2024

This is compounded by the second big change: The chronology is simply abandoned entirely in the process. —Erik Kain, Forbes, 13 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin chronologia, from chrono- chrono- + -logia -logy

First Known Use

1585, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

chronology

noun

chro·​nol·​o·​gy krə-ˈnäl-ə-jē 

plural chronologies

1

: the science that deals with measuring time and dating events

2

: a chronological table or list

chronologist

-jəst

noun