research and development: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
High in business and academic contexts; Medium in general English.Formal, Business, Academic
Quick answer
What does “research and development” mean?
Systematic work undertaken to increase knowledge and devise new applications or improve existing ones.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Systematic work undertaken to increase knowledge and devise new applications or improve existing ones.
Refers to the organizational function or department responsible for innovation, often abbreviated as R&D.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage; the term is standard in both dialects.
Connotations
Connotes innovation, advancement, and corporate investment in both British and American English.
Frequency
Equally frequent in professional and academic settings in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “research and development” in a Sentence
[Organization] engages in research and developmentresearch and development of [product/technology]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “research and development” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The team will research and develop a new medical device.
American English
- The company aims to research and develop cutting-edge software.
adjective
British English
- The research and development budget has been allocated wisely.
American English
- The R&D expenditures are tax-deductible in many cases.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Critical for competitive advantage; involves product innovation and process improvement.
Academic
Fundamental to advancing knowledge; includes theoretical and applied research.
Everyday
Rarely used in casual conversation; appears in news about technology or economy.
Technical
Pervasive in engineering, pharmaceuticals, and IT; entails prototyping and testing.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “research and development”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “research and development”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “research and development”
- Using 'research and development' as a verb, e.g., 'We research and development new products' instead of 'We conduct research and development on new products.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, especially in business and technical contexts, R&D is the standard abbreviation.
No, it is a noun phrase; the related verbs are 'research' and 'develop' used separately.
Sectors like technology, pharmaceuticals, automotive, and aerospace rely significantly on R&D for innovation.
Research and development typically focuses on applied research for practical applications, while basic research aims at fundamental knowledge without immediate use.
Systematic work undertaken to increase knowledge and devise new applications or improve existing ones.
Research and development is usually formal, business, academic in register.
Research and development: in British English it is pronounced /rɪˈsɜːtʃ ənd dɪˈveləpmənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈriːsɜrtʃ ænd dɪˈveləpmənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of R&D as 'Reaching and Developing' new ideas.
Conceptual Metaphor
Research and development is the engine of innovation.
Practice
Quiz
What is a primary goal of research and development?