methodological

American

[meth-uh-dl-oj-i-kuhl] / ˌmɛθ ə dlˈɒdʒ ɪ kəl /

adjective

of, relating to, or following the system of methods, principles, and rules that regulate a given discipline.

This chapter provides practical advice, case studies, and methodological instruction.
In his Principia, Sir Isaac Newton laid the methodological foundation of modern scientific theory and practice.

Other Word Forms

methodologically adverb

Etymology

Origin of methodological

methodolog(y) ( def. ) + -ical ( def. )

Explanation

Use the adjective methodological when you want to describe something that relates to the methods and practices of a certain discipline. As a doctor, you should always follow best methodological practices. If a patient has a headache, don't treat him for a sore foot or vice versa. The roots of the adjective methodological can be broken into parts. Working backwards, -ical means "of or pertaining to," -ology means "branch of knowledge," and method is from both the Latin and Greek words methodus, meaning "a way of teaching or scientific inquiry." If you don't limit the variables, your research may have poor methodology. If you want to look at genes in blue-eyed people, but you study green-eyed people as well, you will have methodological problems.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In short, Kagan would have resolved this case as a good textualist, operating within the methodological terms set down by the majority’s opinion, minus the major-questions thumb on the scale.

From Slate • Mar. 4, 2026

The final takeaway, according to the researchers, is more methodological.

From BBC • Feb. 19, 2026

Though methodological changes make drawing historical comparisons difficult, the only other period of falling fixed-asset investment occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 19, 2026

Shutdown-related methodological challenges and late price data collection in November likely skewed the overall picture.

From Barron's • Dec. 24, 2025

Natural experiments in any field, whether in ecology or human history, are inherently open to potential methodological criticisms.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023