technology
tehk-NOL-uh-jee
Technology (noun) means the practical application of scientific knowledge to solve problems or build tools and machines. Example: “New technology has transformed how we communicate.”
noun
1
The practical application of scientific knowledge to solve problems or build tools and machines.
"New technology has transformed how we communicate."
"The hospital invested in the latest medical technology."
"Advances in technology have made it much easier to work from home."
2
The machines, tools, or equipment produced by this kind of practical knowledge.
"The office upgraded all its technology last year."
"The school spends a lot of money on classroom technology."
"Farmers now use technology such as drones to check their fields."
How to use technology
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTools, machines, and methods that come from applying science to practical problems.
Common pairings
modern technology
new technology
advances in technology
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like technology.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- technologies
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
New _____ has transformed how we communicate.
Etymology
A learned borrowing from Greek tekhnologia ("systematic treatment of an art"), from tekhne ("craft") plus -logia ("study of").
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for technology
See all rhymes for technology →Frequently asked questions
What does “technology” mean?
The word “technology” means the practical application of scientific knowledge to solve problems or build tools and machines. In plain terms, tools, machines, and methods that come from applying science to practical problems.
How do you pronounce “technology”?
“Technology” is pronounced tehk-NOL-uh-jee (/tɛkˈnɑ.lə.dʒi/ in IPA).
How do you use “technology” in a sentence?
Here is “technology” used in a sentence: “New technology has transformed how we communicate.”
What part of speech is “technology”?
“Technology” is a noun.
Where does the word “technology” come from?
The word “technology” comes from Greek. A learned borrowing from Greek tekhnologia ("systematic treatment of an art"), from tekhne ("craft") plus -logia ("study of").
Is “technology” a common word?
“Technology” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “technology” have?
“Technology” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the practical application of scientific knowledge to solve problems or build tools and machines.
What is the difference between science and technology?
Science is the pursuit of knowledge, understanding how and why the natural world works. Technology puts that knowledge to practical use, turning it into tools, machines and solutions. In short, science discovers and explains, while technology applies and builds. Each one feeds the other, but their aims are distinct.
What are the main types of technology?
Technology spans many fields, including information technology, medicine and biotechnology, communication, manufacturing, transport and energy. Some is everyday and visible, like phones and cars, while some works behind the scenes, like the software running a bank. All of it shares one goal: applying knowledge to solve real problems.
What is an example of technology?
Everyday examples include smartphones, the internet, cars, medical scanners and vaccines, each one applied science solving a practical problem. Technology is not only digital, though. A plow, a printing press and a bridge are all technology too. Anything built from knowledge to do useful work qualifies.
Why is technology important?
Technology shapes almost every part of modern life. It lets us communicate across the world in seconds, treat illness, grow more food, travel further and work more efficiently. By turning scientific understanding into practical tools, it solves problems at a scale and speed that would otherwise be impossible.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include technology:
