chronological

adjective

chro·​no·​log·​i·​cal ˌkrä-nə-ˈlä-ji-kəl 

ˌkrō-

variants or less commonly chronologic

ˌkrä-nə-ˈlä-jik 

ˌkrō-

: of, relating to, or arranged in or according to the order of time

chronological tables of American history

His art is arranged in chronological order.

also : reckoned in units of time

chronological age

chronologically

ˌkrä-nə-ˈlä-ji-k(ə-)lē 

ˌkrō-

adverb

Examples of chronological in a Sentence

His art is displayed in roughly chronological order.

a chronological account of their trip

Recent Examples on the Web

The band will pay homage to its roots by playing its first three albums in their entirety, in chronological order over the course of the three shows. —Angelika Ytuarte, jsonline.com, 4 Nov. 2025

Nick Copus, Keesha Sharp and Tina Mabry direct two episodes each in chronological order. —Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 3 Nov. 2025

The Pick Six column revisits the AFC as the 2025 regular season’s chronological midpoint arrives Tuesday. —Mike Sando, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025

The functional centerpiece is a six-story staircase, which leads museumgoers past stone monuments and pharaonic statues arranged in reverse chronological order. —Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

chronological from chronologic + -al entry 1 or from chronology + -ical; chronologic from chronology + -ic entry 1, probably after French chronologique or New Latin chronologicus

First Known Use

1614, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing chronological

• chronological age

Rhymes for chronological

• analogical
• astrological
• biological
• christological
• cosmological
• cytological
• dialogical
• ecological
• ethnological
• ethological
• geological
• histological

Kids Definition

chronological

adjective

chro·​no·​log·​i·​cal ˌkrän-ə-ˈläj-i-kəl 

ˌkrō-nə-

: arranged in or according to the order of time

chronological order

a chronological table

chronologically

-i-k(ə-)lē

adverb