nomenclature

American  

[noh-muhn-kley-cher, noh-men-kluh-cher, -choor] / ˈnoʊ mənˌkleɪ tʃər, noʊˈmɛn klə tʃər, -ˌtʃʊər /

noun

1. a set or system of names or terms, as those used in a particular science or art, by an individual or community, etc.

2. the names or terms comprising a set or system.

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nomenclature British  

/ ˈnəʊmənˌkleɪtʃər, nəʊˈmɛnklətʃə /

noun

1. the terminology used in a particular science, art, activity, etc

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Other Word Forms

• nomenclative adjective
• nomenclatorial adjective
• nomenclatural adjective

Etymology

Origin of nomenclature

First recorded in 1600–10, nomenclature is from the Latin word nōmenclātūra “a calling by name, list of names.” See nomenclator, -ure

Explanation

When adjusting to a new job, you may have trouble understanding the nomenclature, or system of naming things, in the workplace. Just remember: they’re "guests," not "customers," and they push a "purchase buggy," not a "shopping cart." The nomen- in nomenclature comes from the Latin word for name. Nomenclature is a system for giving names to things within a particular profession or field. For instance, you may have heard of binomial nomenclature in biology class. It applies to the way of referring to living things by two names, like calling humans Homo sapiens. Biologists all follow the same nomenclature so that they are easily understood by each other.

Example Sentences

The legal news website SCOTUSblog has also begun using interim docket as its default nomenclature, rankling some commentators who accused the site of adopting a term that plays down the real-world repercussions of interim orders.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 28, 2025

But as his nomenclature has become longer, the number of soldiers assembled for inspection has shrunk each year with embattled forces deployed to frontlines elsewhere.

From Barron's • Dec. 23, 2025

Reading through the ongoing debate about this nomenclature, it’s striking that what one group takes as totally obvious isn’t necessarily accepted by the other side.

From Slate • Apr. 12, 2025

I think our audiences were largely male, and though I don’t count myself in the nomenclature of prog — hate that word — I would think something in the audiences might have been similar.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 5, 2024

“I think the proper nomenclature is gay club, Mom,” Ellis says.

From "Ask the Passengers" by A.S. King