chronology
noun
chro·nol·o·gy
krə-ˈnä-lə-jē 
plural chronologies
1
: the science that deals with measuring time by regular divisions and that assigns to events their proper dates
2
: a chronological table, list, or account
a chronology of the author's works
3
: an arrangement (as of events) in order of occurrence
reconstruct the chronology of the trip
The book provides a chronology of events leading up to the American Civil War.
Did you know?
History is much more than a simple chronology of events, but keeping events in chronological order is the first essential step in thinking about it. When, for example, historians try to show how World War I prepared the way for World War II, tracking the chronology of the events in the years between the two wars can help in explaining a complicated historical era.
Examples of chronology in a Sentence
We tried to reconstruct the chronology of the accident.
The book provides a chronology of the events leading up to the American Civil War.
Recent Examples on the Web
Instead, Hubris contains numerous errors concerning chronology, geography, and election details and even misidentifies NATO’s founding members.
—
Foreign Affairs, 9 Apr. 2025
Hood never shows this chronology to Helen, but lays it out—with some redactions—for the reader.
—Bekah Waalkes, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2025
Francis criticized the view that history is mere chronology – rote memorization that fails to analyze events.
—Joëlle Rollo-Koster, The Conversation, 28 Mar. 2025
Their language is astounding, and the structural decisions each author makes—eliding time and chronology for emotional weight, sometimes, and slowing it down for similar effects in other instances—really floors me.
—Willing Davidson, The New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chronology
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Foreign Affairs, 9 Apr. 2025
Hood never shows this chronology to Helen, but lays it out—with some redactions—for the reader.
—Bekah Waalkes, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2025
Francis criticized the view that history is mere chronology – rote memorization that fails to analyze events.
—Joëlle Rollo-Koster, The Conversation, 28 Mar. 2025
Their language is astounding, and the structural decisions each author makes—eliding time and chronology for emotional weight, sometimes, and slowing it down for similar effects in other instances—really floors me.
—Willing Davidson, The New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chronology
Cite this Entry
“Chronology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chronology. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
chronology
noun
chro·nol·o·gy
krə-ˈnäl-ə-jē
plural chronologies
1
: the science that deals with measuring time and dating events
2
: a chronological table or list
chronologist
noun
-jəst
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