technique

American  

[tek-neek] / tɛkˈnik /

noun

techniques plural

1. the manner and ability with which an artist, writer, dancer, athlete, or the like employs the technical skills of a particular art or field of endeavor.

2. the body of specialized procedures and methods used in any specific field, especially in an area of applied science.

3. method of performance; way of accomplishing.

4. technical skill; ability to apply procedures or methods so as to effect a desired result.

5. Informal. method of projecting personal charm, appeal, etc..

   He has the greatest technique with customers.

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technique British  

/ tɛkˈniːk /

noun

1. a practical method, skill, or art applied to a particular task

2. proficiency in a practical or mechanical skill

3. special facility; knack

   he had the technique of turning everything to his advantage

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• techniques
  plural

Etymology

Origin of technique

First recorded in 1810–20; from French: “technical” (adjective), “technic” (noun), from Greek technikós, techniká; see technic

Explanation

A technique is a method of doing some task or performing something. Your technique for opening drinks might be to twist the top off with your teeth. If so, your dentist better have a good tooth-repair technique. The noun technique can also refer to someone's skillfulness with the fundamentals of a particular task. A violinist could have excellent technique, but lack passion, for example. Writers usually have very individual writing techniques: One might need to write late at night and another early in the morning; some have to write by hand on paper, while others always use the computer.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

technique techniques

This technique transformed individual particle distributions into continuous energy, momentum, and velocity fields, allowing the team to examine the plasma as an evolving fluid.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 3, 2026

Beyond looking the part, he has already spent time helping teammates better their technique, jumping at the opportunity to teach.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 2, 2026

That’s leading to the rise of model routing — a technique that directs queries to the most suitable AI model.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 1, 2026

One interview technique helps him lower his stress levels and make a personal connection.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

To the black elite, though, this was the best method of earning freedom, a technique proven under slavery, and so most likely to show results under a system not so very different from slavery.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

But the EPA’s longstanding techniques already accounted for these uncertainties.

From Slate ● Aug. 2, 2026

Some skills have survived for centuries, passed carefully from one pair of hands to the next using historic techniques that have changed little over time.

From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026

The massive exercises allowed the participants to test new weapons, logistics systems and command and control techniques.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026

He also noted claims that Chinese companies have used distillation techniques to build off of models based in the U.S.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 31, 2026

“Did you not use enough of your concealment techniques, even after ingratiating yourself with Chandresh to control the venue?”

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

Related Words

• approach
• art
• capability
• capacity
• craft
• facility
• know-how
• manner
• means
• mode
• performance
• procedure
• routine
• skill
• style
• system