framework

noun

frame·​work ˈfrām-ˌwərk How to pronounce framework (audio)
1
a
: a basic conceptional structure (as of ideas)
the framework of the U.S. Constitution
These influences threaten the very framework of our society.
b
: a skeletal, openwork, or structural frame
An iron framework surrounds the sculpture.
2
3
: the larger branches of a tree that determine its shape

Examples of framework in a Sentence

These influences threaten the very framework of our society. The book provides a general framework for understanding modern politics. He questions the study's theoretical framework. An iron framework surrounds the sculpture. The panels are attached to the building's steel framework.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The 35-year-old founder has built a remarkably high-earning captive agency, all while staying within the corporate framework that others rush to leave. William Jones, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025 This weekend, the US proposed a new ceasefire framework. Max Saltman, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025 In this essay, scholar Michele Filippini lays out Gramsci’s framework, with the help of his Prison Notebooks, written between 1932 and 1935. The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 10 Sep. 2025 Use tools like data catalogs, governance frameworks and interoperability standards to highlight bottlenecks. Kirk McKeown, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for framework

Word History

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of framework was in 1578

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Framework.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/framework. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

framework

noun
frame·​work ˈfrām-ˌwərk How to pronounce framework (audio)
: a basic supporting part or structure

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