nomenclature

American  

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

noun

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

• nomenclative
  adjective
• nomenclatorial
  adjective
• nomenclatural
  adjective

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

More than updating nomenclature, they are reclaiming a stolen identity and forcing a collision between manufactured labels and the weight of history.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 5, 2026

But as his nomenclature has become longer, the number of soldiers assembled for inspection has shrunk each year with embattled forces deployed to frontlines elsewhere.

From Barron's • Dec. 23, 2025

And they agreed that having Aldama was essential to making the series, particularly when it came to depicting the cheer routines and getting the nomenclature right.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 7, 2025

My mom sure knew how to keep a secret, but she had a real lack of imagination for nomenclature.

From Salon • Oct. 15, 2024

Taxonomy and nomenclature were, for him, merely means to an end.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee