technology

American  

[tek-nol-uh-jee] / tɛkˈnɒl ə dʒi /

noun

technologies plural

1. 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.

2. the application of this knowledge for practical ends.

3. the terminology of an art, science, etc.; technical nomenclature.

4. a scientific or industrial process, invention, method, or the like.

5. the sum of the ways in which social groups provide themselves with the material objects of their civilization.

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technology British  

/ tɛkˈnɒlədʒɪ, ˌtɛknəˈlɒdʒɪkəl /

noun

1. the application of practical sciences to industry or commerce

2. the methods, theory, and practices governing such application

   a highly developed technology

3. the total knowledge and skills available to any human society for industry, art, science, etc

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technology Scientific  

/ tĕk-nŏl′ə-jē /

1. The use of scientific knowledge to solve practical problems, especially in industry and commerce.

2. The specific methods, materials, and devices used to solve practical problems.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• technologist
  noun
• supertechnology
  noun
• antitechnology
  noun
• technological
  adjective
• technologically
  adverb

Inflected Forms

noun

• technologies
  plural

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.

Example Sentences

Part of the US investing directing in AI companies, however, would be to improve Americans' views of the technology, which have grown increasingly negative.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026

“The unique advantage Tesla has, and unmatched at an industrial-level scale, is the degree of vertical integration…across all the hardware plus software products it builds, combined with the efficacy and speed of technology development.”

From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026

That said, it will be some time before those megacap technology companies make it into the S&P 500 after their IPOs.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 5, 2026

The event was also a way for Russian companies to show off their advances in technology, a sphere in which Russia is lagging behind both the U.S. and China.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

Once you pushed it, the hover ladder randomly flitted in front of the shelves, using advanced biofeedback technology, heart-rate monitors, and complex algorithms to figure out what sort of story you might be interested in.

From "Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics" by Chris Grabenstein

Related Words

• automation
• machinery