typology

noun

ty·​pol·​o·​gy tī-ˈpä-lə-jē 

plural typologies

1

: study of or analysis or classification based on types or categories

2

: a doctrine of theological types

especially : one holding that things in Christian belief are prefigured or symbolized by things in the Old Testament

typologist

tī-ˈpä-lə-jist 

noun

Examples of typology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And while typology is by nature a rigid, formal framework, it’s somewhat allowed for surprising connections between German artists across generations, and through to the digital age. —Nargess Banks, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025

Personalize Learning Paths One effective step executives can take to overcome the challenge of professional development of employees in 2025 may be to implement personalized learning paths, using the Enneagram typology. —Expert Panel®, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025

Still, any familiarity with these typologies is sent to rout by the images themselves. —Ocean Vuong, New Yorker, 19 Apr. 2025

These typologies have now proved useless; neither the United States nor any other European state will be immune from the blowback effects of the bizarre strategy of regime change in Syria. —Bassel F. Salloukh, Foreign Affairs, 14 July 2014

Word History

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for typology

• anthology
• apology
• astrology
• biology
• christology
• chronology
• conchology
• cosmology
• cryptology
• cytology
• doxology
• ecology

Medical Definition

typology

noun

ty·​pol·​o·​gy tī-ˈpäl-ə-jē 

plural typologies

: study of or study based on types

especially : classification (as of personality, human physique, or bacterial strains) based on the comparative study of types

typological

ˌtī-pə-ˈläj-i-kəl 

adjective