technical

1 of 2

adjective

tech·​ni·​cal ˈtek-ni-kəl 

1

a

: having special and usually practical knowledge especially of a mechanical or scientific subject

a technical consultant

b

: marked by or characteristic of specialization

technical language

2

a

: of or relating to a particular subject

b

: of or relating to a practical subject organized on scientific principles

a technical school

c

: technological sense 1

3

a

: based on or marked by a strict or legal interpretation

b

: legal sense 6

4

: of or relating to technique

5

: of, relating to, or produced by ordinary commercial processes without being subjected to special purification

technical sulfuric acid

6

: relating to or caused by the functioning of the market as a discrete mechanism not influenced by macroeconomic factors

a technical rally

technical

2 of 2

noun

basketball

: technical foul

Knight walked to the scorer's table to continue his protest and was given the second technical and an automatic ejection from the game.

—The New York Times

Synonyms

Adjective

• specialized

Examples of technical in a Sentence

Adjective

If you have any problems with your new computer, we offer 24-hour technical support.

I missed the first 10 minutes of the show because the network was experiencing technical difficulties.

Technical experts analyzed the data.

The film's director hired a real police officer as a technical consultant.

a pianist with good technical skills

The essay is too technical for me.

the more technical details of their research

“Cartography” is the technical name for the making of maps.

He is using the word in its technical sense.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Eventually the officiating crew had enough and gave him a technical with 1:47 left. —Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024

The company continues to focus on the extraction, refinement, and distribution of technical minerals, particularly lithium, through its mining claims in Utah. —Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024

Noun

Not only did the Warriors have no challenges left, but the official assessed a technical on Podziemski. —Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 1 Nov. 2024

The technicals divide into two categories: the polls, and the political prediction or betting markets. —Shawn Tully, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

New Latin technicus "of the arts or sciences" (borrowed from Greek technikós "skillful, proficient in an art or craft, artificial," from téchnē "art, craft, proficiency in an art or craft, systematic method of performing or engaging in an art, manner, way, (in plural) wiles, cunning" + -ikos -ic entry 1) + -al entry 1; téchnē going back to Indo-European *tetḱ- or *teḱ-s- "fashion, produce" + *-(s)neh₂, noun suffix — more at tectonic

Note: Regarding the nature of the root *tetḱ-/*teḱ-s-, see note at tectonic.

Noun

by shortening

First Known Use

Adjective

1617, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1917, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing technical

• get technical
• technical difficulties
• technical foul
• technical knockout
• technical point
• technical sergeant
• technical/tech support

Kids Definition

technical

adjective

tech·​ni·​cal ˈtek-ni-kəl 

1

a

: having special knowledge especially of a mechanical or scientific subject

technical experts

b

: used in special fields of knowledge

technical language

2

: of or relating to a particular subject

especially : of or relating to a practical subject organized on scientific principles

technical training

3

: existing by laws or rules

a technical knockout

4

: of or relating to technique

technical skill

technically

-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

technical

adjective

tech·​ni·​cal ˈtek-ni-kəl 

1

a

: marked by or characteristic of specialization

b

: of or relating to a special field or subject

2

: of or relating to technique

a surgeon with great technical skill

3

: of, relating to, or produced by ordinary commercial processes without being subjected to special purification

technical sulfuric acid

technically

-k(ə-)lē 

adverb