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

Derived Forms

• architecturally
  adverb
• architectural
  adjective

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

Arm is the architecture beneficiary and Microsoft is the Windows AI gatekeeper, she notes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026

“Our Smartstack platform is central to this new architecture, transforming the grid into an accelerator for compute,” Fluence Energy CEO Jeff Monday said in the media release.

From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026

Tourists have been drawn to Hel's sandy beaches, ancient architecture and seal sanctuary.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

The marvelous, real-life expanse of the Backrooms set allows Parsons to track his characters through the ceaseless spaces, their architecture subtly growing stranger the further they get.

From Salon • May 30, 2026

For that reason, our discussion is merged with an introduction to four major arts: graphic arts, painting, sculpture, and architecture.

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

Related Words

• building
• construction
• engineering
• planning