nomenclature

noun

no·​men·​cla·​ture ˈnō-mən-ˌklā-chər 

 also  nō-ˈmen-klə-ˌchu̇r,

-ˈmeŋ-,

-chər,

-ˌtyu̇r,

-ˌtu̇r

1

: name, designation

… the changing nomenclature of her streets is even more baffling …

—Cornelia O. Skinner

2

: the act or process or an instance of naming

nomenclature … is at its simplest the task of assigning a name to each distinct species

—R. I. Smith

3

a

: a system or set of terms or symbols especially in a particular science, discipline, or art

the nomenclature of inorganic chemistry

b

: an international system of standardized New Latin names used in biology for kinds and groups of kinds of animals and plants

nomenclatural

ˌnō-mən-ˈklā-ch(ə-)rəl 

adjective

Did you know?

Are nomenclature and Name Synonymous?

Nomenclature comes from a Latin word meaning "the assigning of names." English's name and noun are rooted in the Latinate nomen.

Synonyms

• appellation
• appellative
• cognomen
• compellation
• denomination
• denotation
• designation
• handle
• moniker
• monicker
• name
• title

Examples of nomenclature in a Sentence

the nomenclatures of zoology and chemistry

the nomenclature, “tuxedo,” derives from the fact that the jacket first became popular in the resort area of Tuxedo Park, New York

Recent Examples on the Web

Perhaps a little unfortunate given the recent bad publicity for a couple of different criminal networks using the same Matrix nomenclature. —Davey Winder, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024

Color systems date back to at least the 17th century, but in the 19th century, an ornithologist named Robert Ridgway took issue with some of the existing nomenclature of colors, according to Daniel Lewis, who authored The Feathery Tribe, a biography of Ridgway. —Emma Bowman, NPR, 5 Dec. 2024

If one department creates its own unique nomenclature for entering new customer data and another department does the same, there could be years' worth of data that focuses on the same category. —Robert Clark, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024

Though dramatic in nomenclature, a bomb cyclone is a low pressure system found north of the tropics and south of the Arctic that deepens, or intensifies, very rapidly over a 24-hour period. —Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin nōmenclātūra "assigning of names to things," from nōmen "name" + calātus, past participle of calāre "to announce, proclaim" + -ūra -ure — more at name entry 1, low entry 3

Note: The Latin word is formed after earlier nōmenclātor "slave tasked with telling his master the names of clients and others encountered publicly"—see nomenclator.

First Known Use

1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing nomenclature

• binomial nomenclature

Kids Definition

nomenclature

noun

no·​men·​cla·​ture ˈnō-mən-ˌklā-chər 

: a system of terms used in a particular science, field of knowledge, or art

especially : the scientific names for plants and animals used in biology compare binomial nomenclature

Etymology

from Latin nomenclatura "a calling by name, list of names," derived from nomen "name" and calatus, past participle of calare "to call"

Medical Definition

nomenclature

noun

no·​men·​cla·​ture

ˈnō-mən-ˌklā-chər also nō-ˈmen-klə-ˌchu̇(ə)r, -ˈmeŋ-, -klə-chər, -klə-ˌt(y)u̇(ə)r

: a system of terms used in a particular science

especially : an international system of standardized New Latin names used in biology for kinds and groups of kinds of animals and plants see binomial nomenclature

nomenclatural

ˌnō-mən-ˈklāch-(ə-)rəl 

adjective

nomenclaturally

-ē 

adverb