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technology

n.
US //tɛkˈnɑɫədʒi// UK //tɛknˈɒlədʒi// tech·nol·o·gy
  1. 1 scientific application (n.)
    A2 Elementary Academic

    the use of science to solve problems or create useful tools.

    the practical application of scientific knowledge in industry, engineering, or daily life. Often uncountable in this general sense.

    Example

    Modern technology has changed the way we communicate with people around the world.

    Example

    The rapid advancement of medical technology has significantly improved patient outcomes in rural clinics over the last decade.

    Usage

    Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to the field or concept in general.
  2. 2 machines and equipment (n.)
    A2 Elementary Computing

    the actual machines, computers, or equipment that result from scientific work.

    the physical tools, machinery, or digital systems developed through the application of technical knowledge.

    Example

    The office is full of new technology like high-speed scanners and 3D printers.

    Example

    The company invested heavily in green technology to reduce the carbon footprint of its manufacturing facilities.

    Usage

    Can be used as a countable noun when referring to specific types or instances of technical systems.
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  1. 3 useful skills or methods (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

    a specific way of doing something or a skill that humans have invented.

    any specialized method, skill, or mechanism developed to achieve a specific purpose, including those from pre-industrial eras.

    Example

    The technology of ancient pottery allowed early humans to store food for longer periods.

    Example

    Historians study the irrigation technology of the Mesopotamians to understand how they sustained such large urban populations.
  2. 4 the study of techniques (n.)
    C1 Advanced Academic Literary

    the study of how things are made or how tasks are completed.

    the systematic study of or a collection of techniques and methods within a particular field.

    Example

    The university offers a degree in the technology of textile production.

    Example

    The treatise provides an exhaustive technology of glass-blowing as it was practiced in the eighteenth century.
Origin

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek τεχνολογία (tekhnología, “systematic treatment (of grammar)”), from τέχνη (tékhnē, “art”) + -λογία (-logía, “study”). By surface analysis, techno- + -logy.

Word family

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