folksonomy

[ fohk-son-uh-mee ]

noun

, Computers.

, plural folks·on·o·mies.

1. a classification system derived from user-generated electronic tags or keywords that annotate and describe online content:

   Imprecise folksonomies can hinder information retrieval.

folksonomy

/ fəʊkˈsɒnəmɪ /

noun

1. a system of classification that makes use of terms that occur naturally in the language of users of the system

Word History and Origins

Origin of folksonomy¹

2000–05; blend of folks and taxonomy

Word History and Origins

Origin of folksonomy¹

C21: from folk + taxonomy

Example Sentences

Users can tag their works for easy searching, but the system balances what Tepper calls “taxonomy and folksonomy.”

From The Verge

The values the community brings are apparent in the developers’ feminist-minded design decisions, like the amazing AO3 search system that’s based on a curated folksonomy and an army of volunteers as well as the built-in, required content warnings and filtering system that help readers both find and avoid content as appropriate.

From Slate

USER-GENERATED One of the fastest-growing search techniques is tagging, a grassroots phenomenon whereby users label websites with descriptive tags, building a network of knowledge dubbed folksonomy--a taxonomy of knowledge organized by ordinary folk.

From Time Magazine Archive