Meaning & use
technical language
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountable
Words and phrases used by experts in a particular field that most people do not understand.
Grammar: Uncountable: say 'technical language,' not 'a technical language' or 'technical languages.'
Patterns
- use technical language
- avoid technical language
- technical language about something
The manual is full of technical language that confuses beginners.
She explained the medical study without using technical language.
Legal documents often contain technical language that requires a lawyer to interpret.
noununcountable
A style of speaking or writing that is precise, formal, and specific to a subject.
Grammar: Often used after 'in': 'in technical language' means 'expressed in a technical way.'
Patterns
- in technical language
- speak in technical language
In technical language, the problem is called a 'thermal runaway.'
The report describes the failure in technical language that engineers can act on.
Common combinations
- use technical language
- Try not to use technical language when talking to customers.
- avoid technical language
- The guide avoids technical language so anyone can follow it.
- full of technical language
- The contract is full of technical language.
- in plain language
- Please explain it in plain language, not technical language.
Synonyms and how they differ
- jargon
- Jargon often suggests language that is unnecessarily complicated or exclusive; technical language can be neutral and necessary.
- terminology
- Terminology refers to the set of specific terms themselves, while technical language is the overall style of using them.
Opposites
Word family
- technically adverb
- In a way that relates to technical details or exact meaning.
- technicality noun
- A small detail of a rule or procedure.
Commonly confused: technical language or technically?
technical language vs technically
Technically is an adverb meaning 'in a technical way' or 'strictly speaking'; technical language is the noun phrase for the words themselves.
Practice
The instructions were written in ______, so I needed a specialist to explain them.
Choose one answer.
'Technical language' is uncountable, so it takes no article and no plural. The other options wrongly treat it as a countable noun.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “technical language”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.