Technical describes something related to a specific skill, science, or type of work that often needs special training. It can also mean focusing on small details or rules rather than general ideas.
It comes from Greek 'technikós' meaning 'skilled in a particular art or craft', from 'téchnē' meaning 'art, craft, or skill'. Latin and French passed the word into English in scientific and specialized contexts.
When people say 'it’s a technical issue', they often mean 'it’s complicated and hidden inside the machinery'. The same root gives us 'technology' and 'technique', all circling around the idea that there’s a know-how beneath the surface.
Technical fields have historically been male-dominated in many societies, and the word “technical” has sometimes been used to gatekeep or dismiss contributions from women and marginalized groups as non-technical or ‘soft.’
Use “technical” to describe work based on its content, not the gender of who does it, and recognize that technical expertise exists across genders.
["specialized","engineering-related","detail-oriented"]
Women and gender minorities have contributed significantly to technical domains—from early computing to engineering—often without proper recognition. Naming their work as technical helps correct historical minimization.
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