English Reference
noun

terminology

n.
US /ˌtɝmɪˈnɑɫədʒi/ UK /tˌɜːmɪnˈɒlədʒi/ ter·mi·nol·o·gy UK spelling terminologies

  1. 01 C1 Advanced Academic

    the set of special words used by people in a specific job or area of study.

    the collective set of terms used in a particular business, art, science, or profession; nomenclature.

    Simple

    I found it hard to follow the doctor because he used so much medical terminology.

    In context

    The legal terminology used in the contract was so dense that the client required a line-by-line explanation from her solicitor.

    Usage

    Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to the general language of a field.

  2. 02 C2 Proficiency TechnicalAcademic Science

    the study of how special words are created and used in different fields.

    the systematic study of the labelling or designating of concepts particular to one or more subject fields.

    Simple

    She is an expert in terminology and helps create new names for scientific discoveries.

    In context

    Modern terminology as a discipline focuses on the standardisation of technical language to ensure clarity across international research teams.

    Usage

    Used as an uncountable noun in this academic sense.

    glossology

Usage use terminology

Even the terminology of migration carries a clear value judgement: Aliyah, the Hebrew term for Jewish immigration to Israel, means “ascent”, while emigrants have traditionally been known as yordim – “those who descend”.

Al Jazeera· 20 Aug 2026

But there was no established vocabulary in Telugu, Jayanti's native language, for technical terminology such as "shared-memory multiprocessor" that he needed to effectively communicate his results.

Phys.org· 17 Aug 2026

From French terminologie or German Terminologie and their source, New Latin terminologia, from Medieval Latin terminus (“a term”) + -ologia (“study of”), from -o- (“(interconsonantal)”) + -logia, from Ancient Greek -λογία (-logía, “-logy, branch of study, to speak”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Ancient Greek -λογία
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated