nomenclature

noun

no·​men·​cla·​ture ˈnō-mən-ˌklā-chər 

 also  nō-ˈmen-klə-ˌchu̇r,

-ˈmeŋ-,

-chər,

-ˌtyu̇r,

-ˌtu̇r

1

: name, designation

… the changing nomenclature of her streets is even more baffling …

—Cornelia O. Skinner

2

: the act or process or an instance of naming

… nomenclature … is at its simplest the task of assigning a name to each distinct species …

—R. I. Smith

3

a

: a system or set of terms or symbols especially in a particular science, discipline, or art

the nomenclature of inorganic chemistry

b

: a standardized international naming system used in biological classification (as of plants and animals) see also binomial nomenclature

nomenclatural

ˌnō-mən-ˈklā-ch(ə-)rəl 

adjective

Did you know?

Are nomenclature and name synonymous?

Nomenclature has everything to do with names: it can refer to the act of naming, a name itself, and even a system of names—you name it! The term comes to English from the Latin word nōmenclātūra, which means “assigning of names to things.” One may marvel, for instance, at the nomenclature—that is, names—of towns in the United States, from Ninety-Six (South Carolina) to Frankenstein (Missouri). Or one may be required to learn the nomenclature—the system of naming—of a particular branch of science. If nomenclature reminds you of a term you heard in biology class, you know what we mean. Binomial nomenclature refers to a system of nomenclature in which each species of animal or plant receives a name of two terms, of which the first identifies the genus to which it belongs and the second the species itself. For example, the scientific name for humans according to this nomenclature is Homo sapiens.

Synonyms of nomenclature

• moniker
• name
• title
• designation
• nickname
• appellation

Examples of nomenclature in a Sentence

the nomenclatures of zoology and chemistry

the nomenclature, “tuxedo,” derives from the fact that the jacket first became popular in the resort area of Tuxedo Park, New York

Recent Examples on the Web

Loomis categorized the different types of brain waves into what became known as sleep states, and created a nomenclature to describe the phases of unconsciousness. —Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 17 Oct. 2025

No last-minute deal being reached, the spending law funding the U.S. government lapsed at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1 and the federal government, in the common nomenclature, is shutting down. —Todd Spangler, Freep.com, 30 Sep. 2025

Despite its Air Jordan nomenclature, the mule does not feature Air technology. —Riley Jones, Footwear News, 21 Sep. 2025

Two captured Cuban-Soviet Antonov An-2 and An-26 airframes, located by the old terminal, are a physical reminder of one of the more bizarre moments in the era shortly before perestroika and glasnost became part of common political nomenclature. —The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 19 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin nōmenclātūra "assigning of names to things," from nōmen "name" + calātus, past participle of calāre "to announce, proclaim" + -ūra -ure — more at name entry 1, low entry 3

Note: The Latin word is formed after earlier nōmenclātor "slave tasked with telling his master the names of clients and others encountered publicly"—see nomenclator.

First Known Use

1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing nomenclature

• binomial nomenclature

Rhymes for nomenclature

• legislature
• nature

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Kids Definition

nomenclature

noun

no·​men·​cla·​ture ˈnō-mən-ˌklā-chər 

: a system of terms used in a particular science, field of knowledge, or art

especially : the scientific names for plants and animals used in biology compare binomial nomenclature

Etymology

from Latin nomenclatura "a calling by name, list of names," derived from nomen "name" and calatus, past participle of calare "to call"

Medical Definition

nomenclature

noun

no·​men·​cla·​ture

ˈnō-mən-ˌklā-chər also nō-ˈmen-klə-ˌchu̇(ə)r, -ˈmeŋ-, -klə-chər, -klə-ˌt(y)u̇(ə)r

: a system of terms used in a particular science

especially : an international system of standardized New Latin names used in biology for kinds and groups of kinds of animals and plants see binomial nomenclature

nomenclatural

ˌnō-mən-ˈklāch-(ə-)rəl 

adjective

nomenclaturally

-ē 

adverb