orismology

noun

or·is·mol·o·gy ˌȯr-əz-ˈmä-lə-jē

ˌär-

: the science of defining technical terms

orismological

ˌȯr-əz-mə-ˈlä-ji-kəl

ˌär-;

ȯ-ˌriz-

adjective

Word History

Etymology

Greek horismos definition (from horizein to define) + English -logy — more at horizon

First Known Use

1815, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of orismology was in 1815

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

orisha

orismology

orison

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Orismology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/orismology. Accessed 19 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Popular in Wordplay

13 Unusually Long English Words

9 Superb Owl Words

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Popular Features

orismology

noun

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

juggernaut

Popular in Grammar & Usage