methodology
noun
meth·od·ol·o·gy
ˌme-thə-ˈdä-lə-jē 
plural methodologies
1
: a body of methods, rules, and ideas that are important in a science, art, or discipline : a particular procedure or set of procedures
demonstrating library research methodology
the issue is massive revision of teaching methodology—
Bob Samples
Bob SamplesThere have been dozens of studies, using very different methodologies.—Daniel Geschwind, quoted at CNN
Daniel Geschwind, quoted at CNN2
: a science or the study of method
Our … graduate schools of education … are wholeheartedly devoted to methodology.—Mortimer Smith, quoted in American Educator
Mortimer Smith, quoted in American Educator
specifically
: the analysis of the principles or procedures of inquiry in a particular field
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Methodology and Science
The methodology employed in an experiment is essential to its success, and bad methodology has spoiled thousands of research projects. So whenever a piece of research is published in a scientific or medical journal, the researchers always carefully describe their methodology; otherwise, other scientists couldn't possibly judge the quality of what they've done.
Examples of methodology in a Sentence
He blamed the failure of their research on poor methodology.
for solving crossword puzzles my usual methodology is to begin by filling in all of the answers I'm reasonably sure of
Recent Examples on the Web
Vanderbilt University will serve as the research and methodology partner.
—Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 June 2026
Ideas ahead of their time In developing the methodology, Hedin has drawn on the work of the German sociologist Georg Simmel, who argued that value emerges through exchange and interaction rather than from the intrinsic properties of a product.
—Heather Farmbrough, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
Drawing upon Saidiya Hartman’s methodology of critical fabulation, Raphaël Barontini, Andrea Chung, Aline Motta, and Tshepiso Morop offer works that don’t so much reconstruct the truth as embroider the space around it with dreams of possibility.
—The Editors Of Artnews, ARTnews.com, 10 June 2026
The methodology behind the report is similar to how the poverty level is determined, but on a local scale.
—Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for methodology
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Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 June 2026
Ideas ahead of their time In developing the methodology, Hedin has drawn on the work of the German sociologist Georg Simmel, who argued that value emerges through exchange and interaction rather than from the intrinsic properties of a product.
—Heather Farmbrough, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
Drawing upon Saidiya Hartman’s methodology of critical fabulation, Raphaël Barontini, Andrea Chung, Aline Motta, and Tshepiso Morop offer works that don’t so much reconstruct the truth as embroider the space around it with dreams of possibility.
—The Editors Of Artnews, ARTnews.com, 10 June 2026
The methodology behind the report is similar to how the poverty level is determined, but on a local scale.
—Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for methodology
Cite this Entry
“Methodology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/methodology. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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