nomenclature

American  

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

noun

• nomenclatures
  plural

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

Derived Forms

• nomenclative
  adjective
• nomenclatorial
  adjective
• nomenclatural
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• nomenclatures
  plural

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

See Examples For:

nomenclature nomenclatures

With tech leaders adopting the term, the US "may well be able to set the nomenclature," Paterson said.

From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026

Men like Mr. Wells and Mr. Hoser see themselves as bandit-heroes, Robin Hoods who redistribute the wealth of scientific nomenclature.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

In light of that, the province pushed for -- and won -- "an exemption from the International Olympic Committee... because their nomenclature only included one name," Kompatscher said.

From Barron's ● Feb. 2, 2026

That said, the new ships will be equipped with modern weaponry such as guided missiles, some carrying nuclear warheads, but according to standard naval nomenclature, that means they’re misnamed as “battleships.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 1, 2026

Besides, there are always pet names to tide one over: a practice of Bengali nomenclature granting, to every single person, two names.

From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri

In 2021, the society announced the formation of an ad hoc committee to look into nomenclatures.

From New York Times ● Jul. 9, 2021

Various nomenclatures are used to derive names for amines, but all involve the class-identifying suffix –ine as illustrated here for a few simple examples:

From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019

Government contracting firms are adopting new nomenclatures that create buzz.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 31, 2011

Grammar with its puzzling array of classifications, nomenclatures, and paradigms, was wholly discarded in her education.

From The Story of my life; with her letters (1887-1901) and a supplementary account of her education, including passages from the reports and letters of her teacher, Anne Mansfield Sullivan, by John Albert Macy by John Albert Macy

A second example of the confusion caused by the over-ready acceptance of these nomenclatures is afforded by the remarkable figure which stands in the north aisle of the Cathedral, opposite the Daniel.

From Donatello, by Lord Balcarres by David Lindsay, Earl of Crawford