terminology

noun

ter·​mi·​nol·​o·​gy ˌtər-mə-ˈnä-lə-jē How to pronounce terminology (audio)
plural terminologies
Synonyms of terminology
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 How to pronounce terminology (audio)
adjective
terminologically
ˌtər-mə-nə-ˈlä-ji-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce terminology (audio)
adverb

Synonyms of terminology

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Examples of terminology in a Sentence

a lexicon covering the terminologies of several scientific fields the terminology favored by sportscasters
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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Students were learning dates and terminology instead of poetry. — Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026 The terminology, the system, the college routine, all those things start to come. — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026 In big cities, people like this tend to pay rent, which often puts them—to borrow some Marxist terminology—in an antagonistic relationship with the local petite bourgeoisie. — Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026 The terminology shift arrives as NASA continues expanding its use of AI across missions and research programs, from autonomous Mars rover navigation to models capable of analyzing enormous amounts of scientific data. — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for terminology

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of terminology was in 1770

Rhymes for terminology

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Browse Nearby Words

terminological platonism
terminology
term insurance
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Cite this Entry

“Terminology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terminology. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

terminology

noun
ter·​mi·​nol·​o·​gy ˌtər-mə-ˈnäl-ə-jē How to pronounce terminology (audio)
plural terminologies
: the special terms or expressions used in a field
the terminology of law
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