typology

noun

ty·​pol·​o·​gy tī-ˈpä-lə-jē 

plural typologies

1

: study of or analysis or classification based on types or categories

2

: a doctrine of theological types

especially : one holding that things in Christian belief are prefigured or symbolized by things in the Old Testament

typologist

tī-ˈpä-lə-jist 

noun

Examples of typology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These typologies have now proved useless; neither the United States nor any other European state will be immune from the blowback effects of the bizarre strategy of regime change in Syria. —Bassel F. Salloukh, Foreign Affairs, 14 July 2014

Regardless of typology, with every project, Liu adds positively—and sometimes unexpectedly—to the public realm. —Elizabeth Fazzare, Architectural Digest, 4 Mar. 2025

Designed to provide independent living opportunities for women moving to New York City for education and employment, the building marked a new architectural typology at the time that emerged to address the growing demand for housing among single female professionals. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Mar. 2025

There were also several conversations regarding the typologies of material. —Y-Jean Mun-Delsalle, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for typology

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

Medical Definition

typology

noun

ty·​pol·​o·​gy tī-ˈpäl-ə-jē 

plural typologies

: study of or study based on types

especially : classification (as of personality, human physique, or bacterial strains) based on the comparative study of types

typological

ˌtī-pə-ˈläj-i-kəl 

adjective