Technical describes something that involves specialized knowledge, skills, or methods in a particular field. When a gymnastics coach gives technical feedback, she explains exactly how to position your hands or adjust your landing, using specific terminology and precise details about form. A technical manual for building a robot includes precise instructions about wiring and programming, with step-by-step procedures and exact measurements.

The word often refers to the mechanical or scientific details of how something works. A technical problem with your computer might involve the hardware or software itself, not just user error. When someone uses technical language, they're using the specialized vocabulary of their field: a doctor discussing medical procedures, a musician explaining music theory, or a programmer talking about code.

Something can be technically correct while missing the bigger picture. If your teacher asks you to write about what you did last summer and you respond, “I respired, ambulated, and consumed nutrients,” you're technically right (you breathed, walked, and ate), but you're not really answering the question in a useful way.

A technician is someone trained in the technical details of a particular field, like a lab technician who knows exactly how to operate scientific equipment or an auto technician who understands how engines work.