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term of art

American  

noun

  1. a word or phrase that has a specific or precise meaning within a given discipline or field and might have a different meaning in common usage.

    Set is a term of art used by mathematicians, and burden of proof is a term of art used by lawyers.


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Not to use a term of art here, but I have to hedge my answer.

From Barron's • Mar. 28, 2026

The metastatic growth of the upper-middle-class house has led to a familiar term of art: the McMansion.

From Slate • Mar. 6, 2025

And, using a term of art in criminal law, did he act with a “willful disregard for the safety of others”?

From New York Times • Jan. 20, 2024

“First, several scholars have argued that the term ‘officer of the United States’ is a term of art.

From Salon • Jan. 4, 2024

It has become a term of art, and, like many another word of the kind, has travelled far from its original meaning.

From The New Irish Constitution by Morgan, J. H.

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