topology

noun

to·​pol·​o·​gy tə-ˈpä-lə-jē 

tä-

plural topologies

1

: topographic study of a particular place

specifically : the history of a region as indicated by its topography

2

a(1)

: a branch of mathematics concerned with those properties of geometric configurations (such as point sets) which are unaltered by elastic deformations (such as a stretching or a twisting) that are homeomorphisms

(2)

: the set of all open subsets of a topological space

b

: configuration

topology of a molecule

topology of a magnetic field

topologist

tə-ˈpä-lə-jist 

tä-

noun

Examples of topology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In topology, the exact shape of a figure doesn’t matter. — Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 9 June 2026

In the nineteen-twenties, the topology of faith was dramatically shifting. — Michael Luo, New Yorker, 14 June 2026

It is based on a process known as topology optimization, which is a computational method that determines the most efficient material placement. — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 25 June 2026

That requires topology awareness, isolation, and lifecycle management. — Harsha Kotikela, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing topology

• point set topology

Rhymes for topology

• anthology
• apology
• astrology
• biology
• christology
• chronology
• conchology
• cosmology
• cryptology
• cytology
• doxology
• ecology

Kids Definition

topology

noun

to·​pol·​o·​gy tə-ˈpäl-ə-jē 

: a branch of mathematics concerned with the properties of geometric figures that do not change when the figure is twisted or stretched in certain ways

topological

ˌtäp-ə-ˈläj-i-kəl, 

ˌtōp-

adjective

topologist

tə-ˈpäl-ə-jist 

noun

Medical Definition

topology

noun

to·​pol·​o·​gy tə-ˈpäl-ə-jē, tä- 

plural topologies

1

: regional anatomy

2

: configuration sense 1

the topology of a molecule

topological

ˌtäp-ə-ˈläj-i-kəl 

adjective

also topologic

-ik