fachterminus

Fachterminus is a term used in German linguistics and terminology work to denote a word or phrase that designates a concept within a particular professional field. It contrasts with general-language terms by carrying a precise, narrowly scoped meaning that is defined within a domain.

The term combines Fach (field, domain) and Terminus (term). In practice, Fachtermini are collected in glossaries, nomenclatures, and terminological dictionaries to support clear communication among experts.

Characteristics include being domain-specific and often coined or standardized; they may have multiple senses across fields and are linked to definitions, scope notes, and relationships in ontologies. They are used in translation and knowledge representation and may be subject to regulation or standardization by professional bodies.

In application, Fachtermini appear in science, engineering, medicine, law, and industry. They appear in documentation, manuals, education, and software interfaces, helping reduce ambiguity and support interoperability.

Related concepts include Terminology, Fachsprache, and jargon, as well as international standards bodies and guidelines such as ISO 704 and ISO 1087 that govern terminology work and thesaurus construction.