technical

[ tek-ni-kuhl ]

adjective

1. belonging or pertaining to an art, science, or the like:

   technical skill.

2. peculiar to or characteristic of a particular art, science, profession, trade, etc.:

   technical details.

3. using terminology or treating subject matter in a manner peculiar to a particular field, as a writer or a book:

   a technical report.

4. skilled in or familiar in a practical way with a particular art, trade, etc., as a person.
5. of, relating to, or showing technique.
6. technically demanding or difficult:

   a technical violin sonata; a technical ski run.

7. designed or used for technically demanding sports or other activities:

   technical apparel.

8. pertaining to or connected with the mechanical or industrial arts and the applied sciences:

   a technical school.

9. so considered from a point of view in accordance with a stringent interpretation of the rules:

   a military engagement ending in a technical defeat.

10. concerned with or dwelling on technicalities:

    You're getting too technical for me.

11. noting a market in which prices are determined largely by supply and demand and other such internal factors rather than by general business, economic, or psychological factors that influence market activity:

    technical weakness or strength.

technical

/ ˈtɛknɪkəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or specializing in industrial, practical, or mechanical arts and applied sciences

   a technical institute

2. skilled in practical and mechanical arts rather than theoretical or abstract thinking
3. relating to or characteristic of a particular field of activity

   the technical jargon of linguistics

4. existing by virtue of a strict application of the rules or a strict interpretation of the wording

   a technical loophole in the law

   a technical victory

5. of, derived from, or showing technique

   technical brilliance

6. (of a financial market) having prices determined by internal speculative or manipulative factors rather than by general or economic conditions

   a technical rally

Derived Forms

• ˈtechnicalness, noun
• ˈtechnically, adverb

Other Word Forms

• tech·ni·cal·ly adverb
• tech·ni·cal·ness noun
• hy·per·tech·ni·cal adjective
• hy·per·tech·ni·cal·ness noun
• non·tech·ni·cal adjective
• non·tech·ni·cal·ness noun
• o·ver·tech·ni·cal adjective
• pre·tech·ni·cal adjective
• qua·si-tech·ni·cal adjective
• un·tech·ni·cal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of technical¹

First recorded in 1610–20; technic + -al ¹

Example Sentences

But if you’ve already graduated to desserts that play with salt and umami, here’s a little technical secret: another way to bring in the savory element is through texture.

From Salon

Officials described the incident as “an intense, technical rescue” in an Instagram post.

From Los Angeles Times

More than 2,000 scammers signed up to the subscription-based site, many without technical skills, and used it to bombard victims with text messages which took them through to the payment sites.

From BBC

The airport's closure was not due to bad weather or a technical glitch, as one might assume, but to make way for a Hindu temple procession that marches right across its runway.

From BBC

Golf is a test of nerve and that element undermines any technical gifts, no matter how grand they might be.

From BBC

Related Words

• high-tech
• industrial
• mechanical
• professional
• scholarly
• scientific
• special
• specialized
• technological
• vocational