nomenclature
noun
no·men·cla·ture
ˈnÅ-mÉ™n-ËŒklÄ-chÉ™r 
also nÅ-ˈmen-klÉ™-ËŒchu̇r,
-ˈmeŋ-,
-chər,
-ˌtyu̇r,
-ˌtu̇r
1
: name, designation
… the changing nomenclature of her streets is even more baffling …—
Cornelia O. Skinner
Cornelia O. Skinner2
: the act or process or an instance of naming
nomenclature … is at its simplest the task of assigning a name to each distinct species—R. I. Smith
R. I. Smith3
a
: a system or set of terms or symbols especially in a particular science, discipline, or art
the nomenclature of inorganic chemistry
b
: an international system of standardized New Latin names used in biology for kinds and groups of kinds of animals and plants
Synonyms
Examples of nomenclature in a Sentence
the nomenclatures of zoology and chemistry
the nomenclature, “tuxedo,†derives from the fact that the jacket first became popular in the resort area of Tuxedo Park, New York
Recent Examples on the Web
In 1967, only about 600 buyers checked the Z28 option box (there was no slash included in the Z28 nomenclature for the first year), but 1968 and 1969 saw about 7,200 and 20,300 Z/28s built, respectively.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 27 Dec. 2024
Perhaps a little unfortunate given the recent bad publicity for a couple of different criminal networks using the same Matrix nomenclature.
—Davey Winder, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024
Color systems date back to at least the 17th century, but in the 19th century, an ornithologist named Robert Ridgway took issue with some of the existing nomenclature of colors, according to Daniel Lewis, who authored The Feathery Tribe, a biography of Ridgway.
—Emma Bowman, NPR, 5 Dec. 2024
If one department creates its own unique nomenclature for entering new customer data and another department does the same, there could be years' worth of data that focuses on the same category.
—Robert Clark, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for nomenclature 
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Robert Ross, Robb Report, 27 Dec. 2024
Perhaps a little unfortunate given the recent bad publicity for a couple of different criminal networks using the same Matrix nomenclature.
—Davey Winder, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024
Color systems date back to at least the 17th century, but in the 19th century, an ornithologist named Robert Ridgway took issue with some of the existing nomenclature of colors, according to Daniel Lewis, who authored The Feathery Tribe, a biography of Ridgway.
—Emma Bowman, NPR, 5 Dec. 2024
If one department creates its own unique nomenclature for entering new customer data and another department does the same, there could be years' worth of data that focuses on the same category.
—Robert Clark, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for nomenclature
Dictionary Entries Near nomenclature
Cite this Entry
“Nomenclature.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nomenclature. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nomenclature
noun
no·men·cla·ture
ˈnÅ-mÉ™n-ËŒklÄ-chÉ™r
: a system of terms used in a particular science, field of knowledge, or art
especially
: the scientific names for plants and animals used in biology compare binomial nomenclature
Etymology
from Latin nomenclatura "a calling by name, list of names," derived from nomen "name" and calatus, past participle of calare "to call"
Medical Definition
nomenclature
noun
no·men·cla·ture
ˈnÅ-mÉ™n-ËŒklÄ-chÉ™r also nÅ-ˈmen-klÉ™-ËŒchu̇(É™)r, -ˈmeÅ‹-, -klÉ™-chÉ™r, -klÉ™-ËŒt(y)u̇(É™)r
: a system of terms used in a particular science
especially
: an international system of standardized New Latin names used in biology for kinds and groups of kinds of animals and plants see binomial nomenclature
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