architecture

noun

ar·​chi·​tec·​ture ˈär-kə-ˌtek-chər How to pronounce architecture (audio)
1
: the art or science of building
specifically : the art or practice of designing and building structures and especially habitable ones
2
a
: formation or construction resulting from or as if from a conscious act
the architecture of the garden
b
: a unifying or coherent form or structure
a novel that lacks architecture
3
: architectural product or work
buildings that comprise the architecture of the square
4
: a method or style of building
Gothic architecture
5
: the manner in which the components of a computer or computer system are organized and integrated
different program architectures

Examples of architecture in a Sentence

In college, he studied architecture. The architecture of the building is modern.
Recent Examples on the Web
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This is also a great time to marvel at other examples of the city’s architecture, like the Catedral de Mallorca, a cathedral towering over the city skyline and the Llotja de Palma, a 15th-century Gothic guildhall that frequently hosts art exhibitions. Emilio Parra Doiztua, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025 Still, the Ottoman-style architecture and the pale pink of a nearby Orthodox church distinguish ski towns and resorts like Brezovica and Jahorina. Naomi Tomky, AFAR Media, 15 Oct. 2025 The open floor plan and flexible design cemented it as an icon of modern architecture. JSTOR Daily, 15 Oct. 2025 At Tibi, designer Amy Smilovic and Traci Bui-Amar, her senior vice president of design, turned to Brutalist and Bauhaus architecture to inform the brand’s collection. Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for architecture

Word History

Etymology

see architect

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of architecture was in 1555

Cite this Entry

“Architecture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/architecture. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

architecture

noun
ar·​chi·​tec·​ture ˈär-kə-ˌtek-chər How to pronounce architecture (audio)
1
: the art or science of designing and building structures and especially ones that can be lived in
2
: architectural product or work
3
: a method or style of building
architectural
ˌär-kə-ˈtek-chə-rəl
-ˈtek-shrəl
adjective
architecturally
adverb

Medical Definition

architecture

noun
ar·​chi·​tec·​ture ˈär-kə-ˌtek-chər How to pronounce architecture (audio)
: the basic structural form especially of a bodily part or of a large molecule
the architecture and function of the cerebral cortex
the complex molecular architecture of muscle cellsCarolyn Cohen
architecturally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on architecture

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