technique

American  

[tek-neek] / tɛkˈnik /

noun

• techniques
  plural

1. the manner and ability with which an artist, writer, dancer, athlete, or the like employs the technical skills of a particular art or field of endeavor.

2. the body of specialized procedures and methods used in any specific field, especially in an area of applied science.

3. method of performance; way of accomplishing.

4. technical skill; ability to apply procedures or methods so as to effect a desired result.

5. Informal. method of projecting personal charm, appeal, etc..

   He has the greatest technique with customers.

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technique British  

/ tɛkˈniːk /

noun

1. a practical method, skill, or art applied to a particular task

2. proficiency in a practical or mechanical skill

3. special facility; knack

   he had the technique of turning everything to his advantage

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• techniques
  plural

Etymology

Origin of technique

First recorded in 1810–20; from French: “technical” (adjective), “technic” (noun), from Greek technikós, techniká; see technic

Explanation

A technique is a method of doing some task or performing something. Your technique for opening drinks might be to twist the top off with your teeth. If so, your dentist better have a good tooth-repair technique. The noun technique can also refer to someone's skillfulness with the fundamentals of a particular task. A violinist could have excellent technique, but lack passion, for example. Writers usually have very individual writing techniques: One might need to write late at night and another early in the morning; some have to write by hand on paper, while others always use the computer.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

technique techniques

Mr. Sun’s production technique here amplifies that sense of irregularity in an appealing way.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

That simpler technique became increasingly common as the region's population grew and could be learned quickly by people without advanced pottery experience.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 6, 2026

That has been a long-running technique that is much discussed in a lot of economic and administrative law literature.

From Slate ● Oct. 5, 2026

The non-invasive technique uses reflected light to create high-resolution, cross-sectional images of biological tissues, particularly the retina and optic nerve, allowing doctors to detect and monitor disease.

From Barron's ● Oct. 5, 2026

This depended on their confidence in the reliability of measurements taken decades apart; others were quick to dismiss such findings as the result of defective technique.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

There are, of course, soups where acidity is built in earlier: Chinese hot-and-sour soups, borscht and various Eastern European sour soups all have their own traditions and techniques.

From Salon ● Oct. 5, 2026

They then used advanced multiplex immunofluorescence and spatial transcriptomic techniques to examine changes in cancer cells and other cells within the tumor environment.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 4, 2026

They tried to use rudimentary hacking techniques to get answers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

He describes it as using "light pressure" and "strategic massage techniques" to "clear" your lymphatic system.

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

I eventually learned the moving and stationary parts, the chemistry of oils and solutions, tool and grindwheel and magnifying techniques.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Related Words

• approach
• art
• capability
• capacity
• craft
• facility
• know-how
• manner
• means
• mode
• performance
• procedure
• routine
• skill
• style
• system