The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Methodology \Meth`od*ol"o*gy\, n. [Gr. ? method + -logy.]
   The science of method or arrangement; a treatise on method.
   --Coleridge.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

methodology
    n 1: the branch of philosophy that analyzes the principles and
         procedures of inquiry in a particular discipline [syn:
         methodology, methodological analysis]
    2: the system of methods followed in a particular discipline

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (19 January 2023):

methodology

   1.  An organised, documented set of procedures
   and guidelines for one or more phases of the software life
   cycle, such as analysis or design.  Many methodologies
   include a diagramming notation for documenting the results of
   the procedure; a step-by-step "cookbook" approach for carrying
   out the procedure; and an objective (ideally quantified) set
   of criteria for determining whether the results of the
   procedure are of acceptable quality.

   An example is The Yourdon methodology.

   2. A pretentious way of saying "method".

   (1995-04-10)