information technology
information technology
Pronunciation
information technology
IPA: /ˌɪnfəˌmeɪʃən tɛkˈnɒlədʒi/
Syllable breakdown:
in: /ɪn/
for: /fə/
ma: /meɪ/
tion: /ʃən/
tech: /tɛk/
no: /nɒ/
lo: /lə/
gy: /dʒi/
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: information technology (often abbreviated as "IT")
Plural Noun: information technologies (less common, usually refers to different types or systems)
Adjective: information-technology (e.g., "an information-technology professional")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
The use of computers, storage, networking, and other physical devices, infrastructure, and processes to create, process, store, secure, and exchange all forms of electronic data. This includes the development, maintenance, and support of these systems and networks.
Synonyms: IT, computing, data processing, informatics
Antonyms: N/A (as this is a broad concept, there isn't a direct antonym)
The department within an organization responsible for managing the hardware, software, and networks that handle the organization's electronic data and communications.
Synonyms: IT department, tech support, IS (information systems), data center
Antonyms: N/A
Examples of Use
Book: "The field of information technology has revolutionized how businesses operate, leading to unprecedented efficiency and global connectivity." (Gourlay, Stephen. Information Technology: A Business Perspective, July 2018)
Newspaper: "The city council is investing in a new information technology infrastructure to improve public services and data security." (The New York Times, October 2024)
Online Publication: "Experts predict that jobs in the information technology sector will continue to grow, with a particular demand for cybersecurity professionals." (Forbes.com, February 2025)
Entertainment Medium (Film): A character in a movie might say, "We need to get the information technology department to decrypt this drive before time runs out."
Entertainment Medium (Television): In a news report on a technology show, the host might state, "The latest advancements in information technology are making smart homes more accessible and secure than ever before."
General Public Discourse: At a business meeting, a manager might say, "Our biggest challenge this quarter is a bottleneck in our information technology system, which is slowing down our entire operation."
10 Famous Quotes Using Information Technology
The number one benefit of information technology is that it empowers people to do what they want to do. (Steve Ballmer)
Information technology and business are becoming inextricably interwoven. (Bill Gates)
Our intuition about the future is linear. But the reality of information technology is exponential, and that makes a profound difference. (Ray Kurzweil)
Modern biology is becoming very much a branch of information technology. (Richard Dawkins)
The Third [Industrial Revolution] used electronics and information technology to automate production. (Klaus Schwab)
Looking down the road, space exploration and the benefits it yields - in medicine and information technology - should not be overlooked. (Bob Barr)
One of the biggest challenges to medicine is the incorporation of information technology in our practices. (Samuel Wilson)
Information technology has politicized the world's population. (Brent Scowcroft)
Healthcare is becoming part of information technology. (Bill Maris)
The new information technology... Internet and e-mail... have practically eliminated the physical costs of communications. (Peter Drucker)
Etymology
The term "information technology" is a combination of two words: "information" and "technology."
Information: This word comes from the Latin word informare, which means "to give form to" or "to instruct." In its early use, it meant "to tell someone something" or "to give knowledge." Over time, its meaning evolved to refer to the knowledge or facts themselves.
Technology: This word has Greek roots, from technē, meaning "art" or "craft," and logia, meaning "study of" or "science." Initially, "technology" referred to the study of the practical arts. Its meaning broadened over centuries to mean the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry.
The combination of these two words, "information technology," emerged as a specific term in the mid-20th century to describe the application of technology to manage and process information. The first known use of the phrase in its modern sense is often attributed to an article in the Harvard Business Review in 1958, where authors Leavitt and Whisler defined it as a new field encompassing methods for processing large amounts of information and making decisions based on them. This new field was distinct from traditional "data processing" and emphasized the use of computers to handle and transmit information.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Information Technology
Information technology sector
Information technology infrastructure
Information technology solutions
Information technology professional
The business of information technology
Information technology is the backbone of modern business.
Information technology is a double--edged sword (a phrase using a synonym, "technology," but with similar effect).
In the fast lane of information technology (an idiom with a synonym, "technology," but with similar effect).
Information technology is a brave new world.
Information technology is a field of constant change.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of information technology from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
