engineer

[ en-juh-neer ]

noun

1. a person trained and skilled in the design, construction, and use of engines or machines, or in any of various branches of engineering:

   a mechanical engineer; a civil engineer.

2. a person who operates or is in charge of an engine.
3. Also called locomotive engineer. Railroads. a person who operates or is in charge of a locomotive.
4. a member of an army, navy, or air force specially trained in engineering work.
5. Digital Technology. a person skilled in the design and programming of computer systems:

   a software engineer;

   a web engineer.

6. a skillful manager:

   a political engineer.

verb (used with object)

1. to plan, construct, or manage as an engineer:

   He's engineered several big industrial projects.

2. to design or create using the techniques or methods of engineering:

   The motor has been engineered to run noiselessly.

3. to arrange, manage, or carry through by skillful or artful contrivance:

   He certainly engineered the election campaign beautifully.

engineer

/ ˌɛndʒɪˈnɪə /

noun

1. a person trained in any branch of the profession of engineering
2. the originator or manager of a situation, system, etc
3. a mechanic; person who repairs or services machines
4. the driver of a railway locomotive
5. an officer responsible for a ship's engines
6. Informal namesapper a member of the armed forces, esp the army, trained in engineering and construction work

verb

1. to originate, cause, or plan in a clever or devious manner

   he engineered the minister's downfall

2. to design, plan, or construct as a professional engineer

Other Words From

• suben·gi·neer noun
• unen·gi·neered adjective
• well-engi·neered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of engineer¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; engine + -eer; replacing Middle English engin(e)our, from Anglo-French engineor, Old French engigneor, from Medieval Latin ingeniātor, from ingeniā(re) “to design, devise” (derivative of ingenium “nature, innate quality, mental power, clever invention”; engine ) + Latin -tor -tor

Word History and Origins

Origin of engineer¹

C14: enginer, from Old French engigneor, from engignier to contrive, ultimately from Latin ingenium skill, talent; see engine

Example Sentences

She told the court Mr MacDonald, a marine engineer, was on sick leave after suffering a back injury in spring 2022 when he visited osteopath Mr MacKenzie.

From BBC

An engineer's password problem hampered efforts to resolve Bank Holiday airport chaos caused by a flight data fault, a report has said.

From BBC

But five months later, Davy Kirkwood, an audio engineer and one of the pallbearers at Dio’s funeral, also died.

From Los Angeles Times

In January, leading engineer Tim Goss left his role as single-seater technical director.

From BBC

A software engineer by training, she is a longtime Wikipedia editor who got interested in the dark underbelly of crypto when she tried to write a Wikipedia article about it.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• architect
• builder
• designer
• director
• inventor
• manager
• planner
• surveyor