tectonic

American  

[tek-ton-ik] / tɛkˈtɒn ɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to building or construction; constructive; architectural.

2. Geology.

   1. pertaining to the structure of the earth's crust.

   2. referring to the forces or conditions within the earth that cause movements of the crust.

   3. designating the results of such movements.

      tectonic valleys.

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tectonic British  

/ tɛkˈtɒnɪk /

adjective

1. denoting or relating to construction or building

2. geology

   1. (of landforms, rock masses, etc) resulting from distortion of the earth's crust due to forces within it

   2. (of processes, movements, etc) occurring within the earth's crust and causing structural deformation

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tectonic Scientific  

/ tĕk-tŏn′ĭk /

1. Relating to the forces involved in plate tectonics or the structural features resulting from them.

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Other Word Forms

• tectonically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of tectonic

1650–60; < Late Latin tectonicus < Greek tektonikós pertaining to construction, equivalent to tekton- (stem of téktōn ) carpenter + -ikos -ic

Explanation

No, it’s not the latest electro-dance craze from Japan; the word tectonic refers to the earth's crust and the big hunks of it that shift around. Even though it’s popular with the geology crowd, tectonic comes from the Greek word for "building." That can help you remember that the earth's crust consists of the building blocks we live on — the continents. Tectonic plates are the large sections of the earth’s surface that shift. If you live in a part of the world that sits on the edge of a tectonic plate, like the San Andreas Fault in California, you’ve probably felt an earthquake or two.

Example Sentences

The displacement of longtime No. 1 “Citizen Kane” by “Vertigo” in 2012 was a tectonic event.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

"In addition, our results can be fed into tectonic models that are coupled with climate to really explore how shifting tectonics and climates influenced our evolution."

From Science Daily • Apr. 25, 2026

Because the Turkana Rift is the first known active continental rift currently undergoing necking, it offers scientists a rare chance to study this crucial stage of tectonic evolution.

From Science Daily • Apr. 25, 2026

“Some of the larger risks are much like tectonic plates, always moving and periodically causing earthquakes and volcanoes when they crash into each other,” he said.

From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026

The tectonic plates surrounding the Pacific Ocean are converging, or moving toward each other, resulting in a rough arc of subduction faults around the edge of the ocean.

From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland

Related Words

• anatomical
• architectural
• basic
• constitutional
• skeletal