technical

1 of 2

adjective

tech·​ni·​cal ˈtek-ni-kəl How to pronounce technical (audio)
1
a
: having special and usually practical knowledge especially of a mechanical or scientific subject
a technical consultant
b
: marked by or characteristic of specialization
technical language
2
a
: of or relating to a particular subject
b
: of or relating to a practical subject organized on scientific principles
a technical school
3
a
: based on or marked by a strict or legal interpretation
4
: of or relating to technique
5
: of, relating to, or produced by ordinary commercial processes without being subjected to special purification
technical sulfuric acid
6
: relating to or caused by the functioning of the market as a discrete mechanism not influenced by macroeconomic factors
a technical rally

technical

2 of 2

noun

basketball
: technical foul
Knight walked to the scorer's table to continue his protest and was given the second technical and an automatic ejection from the game.The New York Times

Examples of technical in a Sentence

Adjective If you have any problems with your new computer, we offer 24-hour technical support. I missed the first 10 minutes of the show because the network was experiencing technical difficulties. Technical experts analyzed the data. The film's director hired a real police officer as a technical consultant. a pianist with good technical skills The essay is too technical for me. the more technical details of their research “Cartography” is the technical name for the making of maps. He is using the word in its technical sense.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Furthering that mission, Barbie The Movie: In Concert will include a touring road crew consisting of a veteran lineup of all-women technical and production professionals. Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 4 Mar. 2024 The orchestra will be led by Tony Award-winning producer Macy Schmidt, the first woman of color orchestrator in Broadway history, and the touring road crew will consist of all-women technical and production professionals. Journal Sentinel, 4 Mar. 2024 Each watch was developed at least 30 years ago and exemplifies technical innovation, exceptional design, rare materials, historical significance, notable ownership or provenance, exquisite craftsmanship, and rarity. Cait Bazemore, Robb Report, 4 Mar. 2024 Starling pointed to training and technical assistance in the form of oversight and guidance as tools that had been effective in other state initiatives that engaged the private sector. Jennifer Brookland, Detroit Free Press, 4 Mar. 2024 Richardson says there has been some uptake of her suggestions, but mostly by smaller companies or those outside of the core software business that are still jousting for the technical talent—industries like retail, manufacturing, biotech, and financial services. Lauren Goode, WIRED, 4 Mar. 2024 It is often listed as the best version of the anthem, earning its spot through technical excellence and Houston's unmatched presence. James Powel, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2024 The world’s biggest fund manager’s distribution network potentially offers investors better liquidity than most rivals, said Todd Sohn, an ETF and technical strategist at Strategas Securities. Elijah Nicholson-Messmer, Fortune, 3 Mar. 2024 The top-performing subsectors were semiconductors, foodstuffs, and technical hardware equipment. Brendan Ahern, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
Noun
Each of the past three seasons, Doncic, who turns 25 next month, has flirted with the limit of 16 technicals before a one-game suspension kicks in. Schuyler Dixon, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2024 Bona was assessed a technical foul and Arizona State’s Shawn Phillips Jr. was given two technicals and ejected. Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2024 Suns coach Frank Vogel also received a technical for arguing Booker’s ejection. Jack Thompson, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2024 Hurley was called for a technical in the first half after complaining when the official called a tie-up after Neal had come up with an apparent steal. Michelle Gardner, The Arizona Republic, 20 Jan. 2024 Two of the technicals resulted in a seven-point possession for the Bruins that changed the trajectory of the game. Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2024 Portis was then called for a technical in the third quarter after getting tangled up with McConnell. Chloe Peterson, The Indianapolis Star, 2 Jan. 2024 The referees went to the monitor to review what happened and also gave Brown a technical for his part. Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY, 10 May 2023 The bakers are told every single challenge — save for the technicals — right when they're cast on the show, The Guardian reported. Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 31 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'technical.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

New Latin technicus "of the arts or sciences" (borrowed from Greek technikós "skillful, proficient in an art or craft, artificial," from téchnē "art, craft, proficiency in an art or craft, systematic method of performing or engaging in an art, manner, way, (in plural) wiles, cunning" + -ikos -ic entry 1) + -al entry 1; téchnē going back to Indo-European *tetḱ- or *teḱ-s- "fashion, produce" + *-(s)neh2, noun suffix — more at tectonic

Note: Regarding the nature of the root *tetḱ-/*teḱ-s-, see note at tectonic.

Noun

by shortening

First Known Use

Adjective

1617, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1917, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of technical was in 1617

Dictionary Entries Near technical

Cite this Entry

“Technical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/technical. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

technical

adjective
tech·​ni·​cal ˈtek-ni-kəl How to pronounce technical (audio)
1
a
: having special knowledge especially of a mechanical or scientific subject
technical experts
b
: used in special fields of knowledge
technical language
2
: of or relating to a particular subject
especially : of or relating to a practical subject organized on scientific principles
technical training
3
: existing by laws or rules
a technical knockout
4
: of or relating to technique
technical skill
technically adverb

Medical Definition

technical

adjective
tech·​ni·​cal ˈtek-ni-kəl How to pronounce technical (audio)
1
a
: marked by or characteristic of specialization
b
: of or relating to a special field or subject
2
: of or relating to technique
a surgeon with great technical skill
3
: of, relating to, or produced by ordinary commercial processes without being subjected to special purification
technical sulfuric acid
technically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on technical

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!