Technical
/ˈtɛk.nɪ.kəl/noun
Relating to a specialized subject, skill, or method; involving practical detail or procedure.
Did you know?“Technical” ultimately comes from Greek tekhnē, a word for art, craft, and skill—the same root behind “technology,” so the word began as a celebration of human making power, not cold machinery.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*teks-
“to weave, make, or fabricate”
Ancient Greek
Greek
τέχνη (tékhnē)
“art, craft, skill, or method”
Late Latin
Latin
technicus
“of art or skill”
Late 16th Century
French
technique
“pertaining to art or skill”
17th Century
English
technical
“relating to an art, craft, or special skill”
Modern English
English
technical
“relating to a specialized subject or practical method”
Explore more surprising origins