Phrase guide

duck typing

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A style of dynamic typing in which an object's current set of methods and properties determines the valid semantics, rather than its inheritance from a particular class or implementation of a specific interface.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, programming, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From the so-called duck test: “if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.”

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: ankkatyypitys — Translations
  • French: duck typing — Translations
  • German: Duck-Typing — Translations
  • Polish: duck typing — Translations