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.

Synonyms

• account
• chronicle
• commentary
• commentaries
• history
• narration
• narrative
• record
• report
• story

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

French media chronology remains a hot button topic as global streamers have shaken up the landscape since their entry into the country. —Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 11 Feb. 2025

The archive will also include artifacts, a chronology of Indigenous enslavement and oral histories collected from descendants like Leyva. —Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2025

Ali Smith scrambles plotlines, upends characters, and flouts chronology—while telling propulsively readable stories. —Adam Begley, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2025

Perhaps time travel into the past is forbidden for exactly these reasons, according to Stephen Hawking's chronology protection conjecture. —Paul Sutter, Space.com, 25 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin chronologia, from chrono- chrono- + -logia -logy

First Known Use

1585, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids 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

-jəst

noun