chronology

noun

chro·​nol·​o·​gy krə-ˈnä-lə-jē 

plural chronologies

1

: the science that deals with measuring time by regular divisions and that assigns to events their proper dates

2

: a chronological table, list, or account

a chronology of the author's works

3

: an arrangement (as of events) in order of occurrence

reconstruct the chronology of the trip

The book provides a chronology of events leading up to the American Civil War.

Did you know?

History is much more than a simple chronology of events, but keeping events in chronological order is the first essential step in thinking about it. When, for example, historians try to show how World War I prepared the way for World War II, tracking the chronology of the events in the years between the two wars can help in explaining a complicated historical era.

Synonyms of chronology

• history
• commentary
• story
• record
• account
• report
• narrative
• chronicle
• version
• narration

Examples of chronology in a Sentence

We tried to reconstruct the chronology of the accident.

The book provides a chronology of the events leading up to the American Civil War.

Recent Examples on the Web

Continuing the chronology of Journe’s early years, is a prototype Octa Reserve de Marche, the third model introduced by the watchmaker. — Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 13 Oct. 2026

The fire-scar chronology was the oldest ever recorded in eastern North America. — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026

Where previous generations once encountered retro TV classics through reruns and physical media releases, streaming makes practically everything available all at once and scrambles the release chronology completely. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 Oct. 2026

By resisting the siloing of art by geography and chronology, the rehang interrogated the style and substance of European modernism, as well as the ways later generations of artists reclaimed those histories. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 28 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin chronologia, from chrono- chrono- + -logia -logy

First Known Use

1585, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for chronology

• anthology
• apology
• astrology
• biology
• christology
• conchology
• cosmology
• cryptology
• cytology
• doxology
• ecology
• ethnology

Kids Definition

chronology

noun

chro·​nol·​o·​gy krə-ˈnäl-ə-jē 

plural chronologies

1

: the science that deals with measuring time and dating events

2

: a chronological table or list

chronologist

-jəst

noun