What does sequencing mean?
Sequencing is the act of placing people, objects, tasks, or events into a deliberate order. It refers both to the process and, less commonly, to the arrangement that results. The word is especially useful when discussing the order of steps in a project, the timing of events, computer operations, or the analysis of DNA and RNA. In biology, “DNA sequencing” means determining the order of nucleotides in a genetic molecule, a process central to modern medicine and genetics. More broadly, sequencing carries a sense of organization and control: effective sequencing identifies what must happen first and makes complex processes easier to understand. It is a formal but widely used alternative to “ordering,” particularly in technical and academic contexts.
nounThe action of arranging things or events in a particular order. It can also refer to the order or sequence itself.
- The action of arranging elements in a particular order.
- The resulting order of elements or events.
- The process of determining the order of nucleotides in DNA or RNA.
- The order in which computer operations or tasks are performed.
"Careful sequencing of the experiment ensured that each stage produced reliable results."
"The director changed the sequencing of the scenes to give the story more tension."
"DNA sequencing has made it possible to identify genetic mutations with remarkable precision."
The plural is uncommon; the word is normally used in the singular or with constructions such as “sequencing of.”
"The researchers compared different sequencings of the gene."
From arranging events to decoding DNA, sequencing reveals how order can turn a collection of parts into a meaningful whole.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sequencing come from?
Sequencing derives from the Latin verb sequi, meaning “to follow,” and from the related noun sequence, denoting something that follows in order. The word entered English in the late Middle English period in the sense of an ordered series. Its modern uses extended the idea of following order to activities, scientific analysis, and computing.
Related word forms
How sequencing is actually used
The word is especially common in planning, technology, biology, and academic discussion. In everyday speech, “ordering” is usually more accessible, while “sequencing” can suggest a carefully structured process.
Easily confused with sequencing
A sequence is the resulting ordered arrangement, whereas sequencing is the process of placing elements in that order.