technical
Pluraltechnicals
- 1Belonging to one special subject or area of work.
Like special words that only people in one job use.
The report was full of technical words only engineers knew.
In physics, "work" has a technical meaning that differs from its everyday one.
UsageOften in a technical term or in a technical sense: the special meaning in one subject.
Similarspecialized, specialist
Oppositegeneral
Note
- 2About computers, machines, or other technology.
He works in a technical job fixing computer networks.
The store offers technical help with your phone.
UsageSay technical support or a technical job. Technological is used more for new inventions and change.
Similartechnological
Oppositenontechnical
- 3About, or needing, special skill in how something is done, for example in sport or music.
The dance was very technical and took months to learn.
He praised her technical skill at the piano.
Note
- 4Hard to understand unless you have special training in the subject.
Like reading a doctor's notes when you have never studied medicine.
The manual was too technical for most customers to follow.
Her answer got very technical, and the class looked lost.
UsageOften with too or very: too technical. People say it to warn that something is hard to follow.
Similarcomplex, complicated
Oppositesimple, accessible
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- 5Good at working with science, machines, and technology.
She is very technical and can fix almost any gadget.
You need a technical person to set up the server.
UsageUsed about people, as in she's very technical.
Similartech-savvy
Oppositenontechnical
Note
- 6About a market's own trading and price moves, not outside causes like business or economic news.
The drop was technical, caused by trading patterns rather than bad news.
Traders saw a technical bounce after the price hit a key level.
Oppositefundamental
Note
- 7True only under the exact wording of a rule or definition, not in any real or practical sense.
It was a technical win, because the other team forfeited.
Parking one minute past the limit was only a technical violation, so the officer let her go.
UsageOften used with only or purely: only a technical win.
Oppositereal, actual, practical
Note
Less common meanings
- 8Short for technical foul. It's a penalty called in basketball, often for unsporting behavior.
The referee called a technical on the coach for shouting.
He got a technical for slamming the ball down.
UsageThe referee calls a technical on someone, and that person gets a technical.
Note
- 9Short for technical school. It's a school that teaches practical job skills and trades.
Note
- 10Short for technical rehearsal. It's a practice run to check lights, sound, and other stage technology.
UsageMostly said by theater people. In careful writing, say technical rehearsal.
Note
- 11Short for technical course. It's a class that teaches practical, hands-on skills.
Note
- 12Short for technical examination. It's a test of practical or specialized skills.
She passed the technical and moved on to the next round.
The technical tested how well he could wire a circuit.
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- 13A pickup truck that has a gun fixed onto the back.
The fighters mounted a machine gun on the back of a technical.
A technical with a heavy gun blocked the road.
Note
- 14In some fighting games, a special move that cancels the effects of an opponent's attack.
Showing meanings only.
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Origin
From a Greek word meaning "skill."
Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
- Technical ultimately derives from a Greek word meaning skill. en.wiktionary.org