We investigated the dry-etching mechanism of the TiN thin film using a $Cl_2$/Ar inductively coupled plasma system. To understand the effect of the $Cl_2$/Ar gas mixing ratio, we etched the TiN thin film by varying $Cl_2$/Ar gas mixing ratio. When the gas mixing ratio was 100% $Cl_2$, the highest etch rate was obtained. The chemical reaction on the surface was investigated with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine etched profiles of the TiN thin film.