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

The Mynt rethinks the typology from the ground up with a form-forward silhouette that supports the body without looking out of place with the rest of your space. — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2026

But in Aristotle’s typology, where virtue is a mean between two opposing extremes, the opposite of a vice tends to be another vice. — Nikhil Krishnan, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026

Leadership demand is not disappearing; it is being reshaped, and the typology keeps shifting. — Henrik Totterman, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2026

Melville’s book includes lengthy digressions on the typology of whales; the symbolic significance of white; the existing paintings and etchings of whales; and the history of fatal encounters with whales, among other topics. — Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026

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