nomenclature

American  

[noh-muhn-kley-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

Along Ventura County’s coast, locals have dubbed a geyser-like geologic formation the “Rincon Volcano,” but it appears also to be a case of inaccurate nomenclature.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 24, 2026

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

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

Following California’s lead and aiming to make the map less confusing, Oregon also changed its nomenclature.

From Salon ● Aug. 8, 2025

Contemporary observations are changing our understanding of planetary systems, and it is important that our nomenclature for objects reflect our current understanding.

From "Auggie & Me" by R. J. Palacio

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

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

Civilization, in its career, may often be traced in the nomenclatures of successive periods.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 12, No. 71, September, 1863 by Various