article

"Article" is a useful word with several distinct meanings. It can refer to a piece of writing, a physical object, a section of a legal document, or a small but important grammar word. Here are the most common senses you will encounter.

1nouna piece of writing

An article is a piece of writing published in a newspaper, magazine, or website. Think of it as a standalone text that informs or discusses a topic — not a full book, just one focused piece.

media, journalism, everyday language · Modern, widely used

I read an interesting article about climate change in the newspaper this morning.

She wrote an article for the school magazine about healthy eating.

The journalist published three articles this week.

2nouna physical object or item

An article can simply mean a single thing or item, especially when talking about clothing or belongings. It sounds a little more formal than just saying 'thing' or 'item'.

everyday language, formal contexts · Formal, still in common use

Please make sure no articles of clothing are left in the changing room.

The police found several articles belonging to the missing person.

Pack only essential articles in your carry-on bag.

3nouna grammar word (a, an, the)

In English grammar, an article is one of the small words — 'a', 'an', or 'the' — that come before a noun. 'A' and 'an' are called indefinite articles (you are talking about something general), and 'the' is the definite article (you are talking about something specific).

grammar, linguistics, education · Modern, widely used

In the sentence 'I saw a dog', the word 'a' is an indefinite article.

The teacher explained when to use the definite article 'the'.

Many languages do not have articles, so English learners often find them tricky.

4nouna section in a legal or official document

In law and formal agreements, an article is a numbered section or clause. Think of it like a chapter in a contract or a constitution — each article covers one specific rule or point.

law, politics, formal documents · Formal, widely used in legal contexts

Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights protects freedom of expression.

The lawyers debated the meaning of Article 5 in the contract.

According to Article 2 of the agreement, both parties must give 30 days' notice.