The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published standard ISO/TR 18401:2017, “Nanotechnologies — Plain language explanation of selected terms from the ISO/IEC 80004 series.”  The standard is intended to assist stakeholders who are making decisions about the direction, management, and application of nanotechnologies to understand better selected key terms and definitions in the ISO/IEC 80004 vocabulary series for nanotechnologies.  The standard offers explanations, including examples, of selected nanotechnology terms and is intended to facilitate an understanding of the use and applications of nanotechnology.  The specific aim is to:

• Promote consistent usage and reduce misinterpretation of terms among users; and

• Facilitate communication and understanding in developing or commercializing applications of nanotechnologies.

The standard contains selected key terms and provides definitions and explanations intended to aid understanding and illustrate, where applicable, the relationship between one term and another, using practical examples where possible.  Explanations and examples are chosen to underpin the selected terms published in the ISO/IEC 80004 vocabulary series.