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

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 honour could also go to a new imaging technique, called optical coherence tomography.

From Barron's ● Oct. 5, 2026

It’s a dazzling selection that stresses the variety of Pollock’s paintings from this brief period, their common technique notwithstanding.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026

It was very, very difficult but the technique and finishing was excellent.

From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026

In light of the four realms’ unhelpfulness, he was left with an ushering technique he loathed to use.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

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

According to Asymmetric, the agents were able to refine their techniques in a matter of days, a process that typically takes traditional hackers months or even years.

From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026

The improved calibration could also help researchers verify other dating techniques, including carbon-14 dating of organic materials and uranium-lead dating of rocks that formed billions of years ago early in Earth's history.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 30, 2026

"I like proving people wrong," says Jasmine, 33, from Bedfordshire, who says she's been trolled by people questioning her techniques but they just "spur me on more".

From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026

In carrying out their underwater discoveries and excavations, Bass and his colleagues introduced groundbreaking inventions and techniques that greatly advanced how marine archaeology is conducted.

From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler

Related Words

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