architecture

American  

[ahr-ki-tek-cher] / ˈɑr kɪˌtɛk tʃər /

noun

1. the profession of designing buildings, open areas, communities, and other artificial constructions and environments, usually with some regard to aesthetic effect. Architecture often includes design or selection of furnishings and decorations, supervision of construction work, and the examination, restoration, or remodeling of existing buildings.

2. the character or style of building.

   the architecture of Paris; Romanesque architecture.

3. the action or process of building; construction.

4. the result or product of architectural work, as a building.

5. buildings collectively.

6. Computers. a fundamental underlying design of computer hardware, software, or both.

7. the structure of anything.

   the architecture of a novel.

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architecture British  

/ ˈɑːkɪˌtɛktʃə /

noun

1. the art and science of designing and superintending the erection of buildings and similar structures

2. a style of building or structure

   Gothic architecture

3. buildings or structures collectively

4. the structure or design of anything

   the architecture of the universe

5. the internal organization of a computer's components with particular reference to the way in which data is transmitted

6. the arrangement of the various devices in a complete computer system or network

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Other Word Forms

• architectural
  adjective
• architecturally
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of architecture

First recorded in 1555–65; from Middle French, from Latin architectūra; see architect, -ure

Explanation

Architecture is the process, or profession, of designing buildings and their environments. Architecture also refers to the product of this design and work. The root of the word architecture is the Greek arkhitekton ("master builder"), which makes sense because the ancient Greeks were very skilled at architecture — think of all those columns and stadiums and temples. The Parthenon, which was begun in 447 BC, is one of the greatest examples of architecture from Classical Greece.

Example Sentences

"We initially assumed the issue had to do with neural network's architecture," says Ananyae Kumar Bhartari, a graduate of Penn Engineering's Scientific Computing master's program and the paper's other co-first author.

From Science Daily • May 6, 2026

"We realised that the security architecture that we are in was not working," Sargis Khandanyan, chairman of the foreign relations committee at Armenia's National Assembly, told the BBC.

From BBC • May 3, 2026

The Venice Biennale is an international cultural organisation started in 1895 that presents major cultural festivals and runs its flagship art exhibition and architecture exhibition on alternating years.

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

The listing adds, “The home’s custom Mediterranean architecture and local craftsmanship embrace simplicity, which defines the unique upcountry lifestyle.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 28, 2026

If architecture is “the art of shaping space to human needs and aspirations,” then Stonehenge more than meets the test.

From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson

Related Words

• building
• construction
• engineering
• planning