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a written composition in prose, usually nonfiction, on a specific topic, forming an independent part of a book or other publication, as a newspaper or magazine.
an individual object, member, or portion of a class; an item or particular:
an article of food; articles of clothing.
something of indefinite character or description:
What is that article?
an item for sale; commodity.
Grammar. any member of a small class of words, or, as in Swedish or Romanian, affixes, found in certain languages, as English, French, and Arabic, that are linked to nouns and that typically have a grammatical function identifying the noun as a noun rather than describing it. In English the is the, the is a or an, and their force is generally to impart specificity to the noun or to single out the referent from the class named by the noun.
a clause, item, point, or particular in a contract, treaty, or other formal agreement; a condition or stipulation in a contract or bargain:
The lawyers disagreed on the article covering plagiarism suits.
a separate clause or provision of a statute.
Slang. a person.
Archaic. a subject or matter of interest, thought, business, etc.
Obsolete. a specific or critical point of time; juncture or moment:
the article of death.
to set forth in articles; charge or accuse specifically:
They articled his alleged crimes.
to bind by articles of covenant or stipulation:
to article an apprentice.
Contemporary Examples

Just a few pages apart, the editors published two articles that seem to be pointing in opposite directions.
New Thai-Taiwanese Syndrome Is Not AIDS 2.0 Kent Sepkowitz August 25, 2012

The bariatric approach was shown effective in two New England Journal of Medicine articles earlier this year (here and here).
Why New Diet Drugs, Belviq and Qsymia, Are Just in Time Kent Sepkowitz July 18, 2012

I gave my articles illegally to my friends to publish while I was in jail.
Freed Activist Blogger Maikel Nabil Sanad on Egypt’s Future David Keyes June 5, 2012

There has been a run on gas masks in recent days, and articles in the newspapers about what to do in case of a chemical attack.
On Shopping for Gas Masks on a Wednesday Gabriel Sassoon August 29, 2013

I can already see the sprinkles of articles sifting down upon my Google homepage.
I Like My Low Sex Drive Joan Sewell June 15, 2010

Historical Examples

Most of the articles related to Earth alone, and he skipped them.
Victory Lester del Rey

It was formed, in fact, by the articles of Association in 1774.
United States Presidents’ Inaugural Speeches Various

The first list is of articles which require no ticket at any price.
Germany in War Time Mary Ethel McAuley

His articles had been typewritten and she had never seen his handwriting.
Her Father’s Daughter Gene Stratton-Porter

At length he made it known that he was the author of the articles.
Harper’s New Monthly Magazine, Vol IV. No. XX. January, 1852. Various

noun
one of a class of objects; item: an article of clothing
an unspecified or previously named thing, esp a small object: he put the article on the table
a distinct part of a subject or action
a written composition on a subject, often being one of several found in a magazine, newspaper, etc
(grammar) a kind of determiner, occurring in many languages including English, that lacks independent meaning but may serve to indicate the specificity of reference of the noun phrase with which it occurs See also definite article, indefinite article
a clause or section in a written document such as a treaty, contract, statute, etc
in articles, formerly, undergoing training, according to the terms of a written contract, in the legal profession
(often capital) (Christianity) See article of faith, Thirty-nine Articles
(archaic) a topic or subject
verb (transitive)
(archaic) to accuse
n.

c.1200, “separate parts of anything written” (e.g. the statements in the Apostles’ Creed, the clauses of a statute or contract), from Old French article (13c.), from Latin articulus, diminutive of artus “a joint” (from PIE *ar-tu-, from *ar- “to fit together;” (see arm (n.1)).

Meaning extended to “a small division,” then generalized to “item, thing.” Older sense preserved in Articles of War “military regulations” (1716) and Articles of Confederation (U.S. history). Meaning “literary composition in a journal, etc.” (independent, but part of a larger work) first recorded 1712. Meaning “piece of property” (clothing, etc.) first attested 1796, originally in rogue’s cant.

In grammar, the words a, an, and the, which precede a noun or its modifier. The is the definite article; a and an are indefinite articles.

noun

A person, esp one considered to be clever, cute, or resourceful; number •Always preceded by an adjective or by the locution ”Quite an”: He is some slick article/ Your little sister’s quite an article