typography
Americannoun
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the art or process of printing with type.
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the work of setting and arranging types and of printing from them.
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the general character or appearance of printed matter.
noun
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the art, craft, or process of composing type and printing from it
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the selection and planning of type for printed publications
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of typography
1635–45; < New Latin typographia, equivalent to Greek týpo ( s ) type + graphía -graphy
Explanation
Use the noun typography to describe the art of putting words into print. You might admire the typography of a concert poster that uses an elegant font, for example. When typography began, the process involved choosing the letters, arranging them, and printing with a press on paper. Today, almost anyone can practice typography by using a computer to design and print flyers, magazines, posters, and more. Don't confuse typography with its near-homonym, topography, which is a branch of Earth science. You'll recognize typography by the Greek typos, which means "dent or impression."
Vocabulary lists containing typography
Journalism Jargon
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"Stanford University Commencement Address" by Steve Jobs
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Unit 4, Whole-Class Learning
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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.
Geddes, who is a a designer by trade, said the variety of typography and design was fascinating.
From BBC ● May 4, 2026
It’s all a bit rattling to typography nerds, some of whom don’t want to see their art form used by businesses to font-wash their reputations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 13, 2025
“We were typographers before we were printers,” Cary says, pointing to the hulking Intertype brand typography machine dating from the early 20th century that stands in one of the shop windows.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2024
A jar of Homiah Sambal Chili Crunch is packaged in a colorful floral paper label, while a jar of Momofuku Chili Crunch is more simple in appearance and typography.
From Salon ● Apr. 9, 2024
There were the huge printing shops with their subeditors, their typography experts, and their elaborately equipped studios for the faking of photographs.
From "1984" by George Orwell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
