technology

Definition

The combined application of science and art in practical ways in industry, as for example in designing new machines.

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek τεχνολογία (tekhnología, “systematic treatment (of grammar)”), from τέχνη (tékhnē, “art”) + -λογία (-logía, “study”). By surface analysis, techno- + -logy.

Example Sentences

• "Meronyms: (contextually meronymous) art, applied science, industrial arts"
• "Humankind relies on technology to keep average standard of living higher than it would otherwise be."
• "Nearly everyone believes, falsely, that technology is applied science […] Technology is more closely related to art than to science—not only materially, because art must somehow involve the selection and manipulation of matter, but conceptually as well, because the technologist, like the artist, must work with many unanalyzable complexities. Another popular misunderstanding today is the belief that technology is inherently ugly and unpleasant, whereas a moment's reflection will show that technology underlies innumerable delightful experiences as well as the greatest art, whether expressed in object, word, sound or environment."

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