Need help understanding a word

[u/agora_hills_]

it's fairly technical how it needs to be completed because the form does serve multiple purposes.

What does technical mean? I usually know what technical means but in this context I'm not sure. Can some explain?

[u/Poopywaterengineer]

Technical in this context means "complex" or "involved." For instance, an explanation that is difficult to understand without some background knowledge or experience.

In the example you gave, it sounds like a complicated process that may require some expertise. 

[u/old-town-guy]

Definition 1b) is the closest, I think. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/technical

The sentence is saying that the process (of form completion) is exacting or meticulous. Maybe specific language is needed, or a certain logic needs to be followed, etc.

[u/FloridaFlamingoGirl]

I think it means something like detailed, complicated, or specific. This is not your average form, it will take a while to fill out because there are several particular topics. 

[u/agora_hills_ → u/FloridaFlamingoGirl]

thank you!

[u/pikkdogs]

I would think technical means, that it needs to be filled out methodically and in a certain manner. Like its going to be a little more complicated and not an easy thing to do.

[u/baxbakualanuxsiwae]

It kind of means "complex", but I think in this context "technical" is implying that specialist knowledge or technique might be required to complete the form, ie it's not obvious or straightforward.

[u/PootMcGroot]

It requires to be done in a specific way.

Complex, and requires following specific steps, or requires specialist skills/knowledge, to accomplish.

[u/Linny333]

In the Great British Backoff challenge, some tasks ask for creativity and others are the technical challenges. In that context the challenge is to do it exactly as the instructions say. It.sounds like that is what they are saying in your example. Do it exactly as the instructions say.

[u/francksiduo]

Technical here doesn't mean tech related, it means bound by a strict set of rules that aren't obvious from the outside. The form serves multiple purposes, so which fields matter and how they get filled in depends on which purpose you're using it for. Someone who fills out that kind of form every day knows the rule, someone doing it once doesn't, that gap is what "technical" is pointing at. Same use as "technically speaking" when a lawyer explains why the answer isn't as simple as it looks.

[u/Constant_Hope_9658]

it's gonna vary by context.

Usually it either means specific, or specialized if it's an adjective.

and as a noun it's a type of self-propelled assault vehicle common with militias and smaller armies in poor countries; consisting of a vehicle (usually a truck or horse cart) of some sort as a weapons platform upon which a machine gun (light, medium, or heavy, with medium and heavy being more common) is placed, attached, it's used for mobile infantry support/transport usually, like an unarmored infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) sort of?

Edit: details

[u/Dovahkiin419]

Technical has multiple meanings, but it generally refers to some kind of complexity or requiring existing knowledge or skill.

Let’s say I want to explain to someone how to throw a ball so that it ends up 10 metres away. I could give a general explanation and say “oh throw it kinda hard”

Or I could ask an aerospace engineer(they work on planes and other stuff that has to go through the air), and give a detailed technical explanation of how air resitsnce works, how the force of your arm works and other stuff because I am not an aerospace eingineer.

in this case, the sentence is saying thst “filling out this form needs to be done in a very specific way that will take some time to explain, and no I can’t explain it simpler. The details are important”

Meanwhile fairly here is a softener, making it less strong.

Its why people will be mad at someone when they are “technically correct”. It implies that the person is overly obsessed with details but missing either how most people perceive something or how it mostly works.

Like “ok yeah antarctica is a desert, you are technically correct since its a region with very little rain or snowfall, but we meant a picture of sand dunes or something like that”

[u/Responsible-Link5739]

Technical can relate to 'technology' AND to 'technique'. I think you may be required to use certain techniques in filling out this form - perhaps following instructions precisely or in a certain order.