Glossary
Architect Terms & Vocabulary
15 essential architect terms with plain-English definitions: the vocabulary you’ll hear in training and on day one.
Key architect vocabulary
These 15 terms come up constantly in architect training, on the job and in interviews. Knowing them helps you follow instructions, document accurately and sound prepared.
- ARE
- Licensing exam.
- AXP
- Architectural Experience Program.
- B.Arch
- Bachelor of Architecture.
- BIM
- Building information modeling.
- Building code
- Safety rules.
- Construction documents
- Final drawings.
- Design development
- Detailed design phase.
- Elevation
- Side view.
- LEED
- Green building rating.
- M.Arch
- Master of Architecture.
- NAAB
- Architecture program accreditor.
- Program
- Client’s space needs.
- Schematic design
- Early design phase.
- Section
- Cut-through drawing.
- Submittal
- Contractor product info.
Practice these terms
Test yourself with the free Architect practice test: it includes vocabulary questions built from this list. For a complete course, see Architect training.
Browse terms from every career in our career glossary.