technical

[tek-ni-kuhl]

adjective

1. belonging or pertaining to an art, science, or the like.

   technical skill.

2. peculiar to or characteristic of a particular art, science, profession, trade, etc..

   technical details.

3. using terminology or treating subject matter in a manner peculiar to a particular field, as a writer or a book.

   a technical report.

4. skilled in or familiar in a practical way with a particular art, trade, etc., as a person.

5. of, relating to, or showing technique.

6. technically demanding or difficult.

   a technical violin sonata; a technical ski run.

7. designed or used for technically demanding sports or other activities.

   technical apparel.

8. pertaining to or connected with the mechanical or industrial arts and the applied sciences.

   a technical school.

9. so considered from a point of view in accordance with a stringent interpretation of the rules.

   a military engagement ending in a technical defeat.

10. concerned with or dwelling on technicalities.

    You're getting too technical for me.

11. noting a market in which prices are determined largely by supply and demand and other such internal factors rather than by general business, economic, or psychological factors that influence market activity.

    technical weakness or strength.

technical

/ ˈtɛknɪkəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or specializing in industrial, practical, or mechanical arts and applied sciences

   a technical institute

2. skilled in practical and mechanical arts rather than theoretical or abstract thinking

3. relating to or characteristic of a particular field of activity

   the technical jargon of linguistics

4. existing by virtue of a strict application of the rules or a strict interpretation of the wording

   a technical loophole in the law

   a technical victory

5. of, derived from, or showing technique

   technical brilliance

6. (of a financial market) having prices determined by internal speculative or manipulative factors rather than by general or economic conditions

   a technical rally

Other Word Forms

• technically adverb
• technicalness noun
• hypertechnical adjective
• hypertechnicalness noun
• nontechnical adjective
• nontechnicalness noun
• overtechnical adjective
• pretechnical adjective
• quasi-technical adjective
• untechnical adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of technical¹

First recorded in 1610–20; technic + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Media coverage of the U.S. military attacks that have killed 21 alleged “narco-terrorists” has mostly focused on technical questions: Were the boats really carrying drugs?

From Salon

But in its exhausting pursuit of technical perfection, “The Smashing Machine” merely mirrors its subject’s journey, losing sight of its goal for a futile shot at glory.

From Salon

PPE Medpro's spokesperson claimed that the company itself did not undertake the technical work of liaising with manufacturers in China, including quality control and sterility assurance levels.

From BBC

Death metal music is heavy, technical and extreme.

From Los Angeles Times

“It also had to be somebody that has the chops of a serious technical actor. That is a very short list.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• high-tech 
• industrial 
• mechanical 
• professional 
• scholarly 
• scientific 
• special 
• specialized 
• technological 
• vocational