terminology

noun

ter·​mi·​nol·​o·​gy ˌtər-mə-ˈnä-lə-jē 

plural terminologies

1

: the technical or special terms used in a business, art, science, or special subject

2

: nomenclature as a field of study

terminological

ˌtər-mə-nə-ˈlä-ji-kəl 

adjective

terminologically

ˌtər-mə-nə-ˈlä-ji-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• argot
• cant
• dialect
• jargon
• jive
• language
• lingo
• patois
• patter
• shop
• shoptalk
• slang
• vocabulary

Examples of terminology in a Sentence

a lexicon covering the terminologies of several scientific fields

the terminology favored by sportscasters

Recent Examples on the Web

Cap’n Don Johnson is alerted at the brig (terminology check?) and orders the ship to drop buoys, informing us that only 15 percent of overboard cases survive. —Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2024

That, and a diet of 1970s and 1980s ‘exploitation movies,’ or ‘genre titles’ to use contemporary terminology. —Patrick Frater, Variety, 1 Nov. 2024

For reference, this terminology is front and center in a report that Fish and others wrote for the Eleos AI group that was set up to manage just these kinds of questions. —John Werner, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024

That can make things tricky for reporters like me, who like to use consistent terminology. —Gina Lee Castro, Journal Sentinel, 11 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin terminus term, expression (from Latin, limit) + English -o- + -logy

First Known Use

1770, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

terminology

noun

ter·​mi·​nol·​o·​gy ˌtər-mə-ˈnäl-ə-jē 

plural terminologies

: the special terms or expressions used in a field

the terminology of law