typology

[ tahy-pol-uh-jee ]

noun

1. the doctrine or study of types or prefigurative symbols, especially in scriptural literature.
2. a systematic classification or study of types.
3. symbolism.
4. Linguistics. the study and classification of languages according to structural features, especially patterns of phonology, morphology, and syntax, without reference to their histories.

typology

/ taɪˈpɒlədʒɪ; ˌtaɪpəˈlɒdʒɪkəl /

noun

1. Christian theol the doctrine or study of types or of the correspondence between them and the realities which they typify

Derived Forms

• typological, adjective
• tyˈpologist, noun
• ˌtypoˈlogically, adverb

Other Words From

• ty·po·log·i·cal [tahy-p, uh, -, loj, -i-k, uh, l], typo·logic adjective
• typo·logi·cal·ly adverb
• ty·polo·gist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of typology¹

First recorded in 1835–45; typo- + -logy

Example Sentences

Sometimes, the shapes in “Pluriverse assembly” suggest familiar objects — a simple light bulb, for instance, or a changing typology of ancient Greek vases, like an amphora or an oenochoe jug.

From Los Angeles Times

But that's only one way to approach the issue of typology.

From Salon

The scientists found that, whatever the age of the participant, the most effective calculation strategies were associated with certain drawing typologies.

From Science Daily

You show that there’s a two-dimensional typology we can use to understand how different democracies work, one with electoral systems, the other with what you call "executive accountability."

From Salon

"By aggregating data from different buildings, there will be a publicly available material stock database to share key benchmarks for types of materials and different typologies of buildings," she says.

From BBC

Related Words

• categorization
• classification