technology
Americannoun
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the branch of knowledge that deals with the creation and use of technical means and their interrelation with life, society, and the environment, drawing upon such subjects as industrial arts, engineering, applied science, and pure science.
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the application of this knowledge for practical ends.
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the terminology of an art, science, etc.; technical nomenclature.
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a scientific or industrial process, invention, method, or the like.
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the sum of the ways in which social groups provide themselves with the material objects of their civilization.
noun
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the application of practical sciences to industry or commerce
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the methods, theory, and practices governing such application
a highly developed technology
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the total knowledge and skills available to any human society for industry, art, science, etc
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The use of scientific knowledge to solve practical problems, especially in industry and commerce.
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The specific methods, materials, and devices used to solve practical problems.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of technology
First recorded in 1605–15, technology is from the Greek word technología systematic treatment. See techno-, -logy
Explanation
Technology is using science to solve a problem or create a product. You probably have some gadgets and gizmos, like cell phones and video games, that you really enjoy. These are products of technology. Technology consists of all the things science allows people to make and do. New cars, new surgical techniques, new computers, and even robots are all examples of technology. Since science is always advancing, technology is too. The more scientists learn, the more technology allows us to do — it's very exciting.
Vocabulary lists containing technology
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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"Black Panther" Lingo
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The Ingenious Lexicon of Invention
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Technology stocks tumbled on Tuesday, extending a swoon that began in early June, as investors anxiously await the historic SpaceX IPO later this week and retreat from hot parts of the artificial-intelligence playbook.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026
Randall “Randy” Goddard of the LAPD’s Information Technology Bureau wrote streetlighting officials to say that the Palisades community “could use a big favor from your department.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026
Find insight on ZipRecruiter, Apple, Europe’s tech companies more in the latest Market Talks covering Technology, Media and Telecom.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026
Chip design company Marvell Technology was also up more than 9% after S&P Dow Jones Indices announced on Friday that it would join the S&P 500.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026
Technology came first, because it is possible to make machines by trial and error without fully understanding the principles on which they operate.
From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.