mechanical

[ muh-kan-i-kuhl ]

adjective

1. having to do with machinery:

   a mechanical failure.

2. being a machine; operated by machinery:

   a mechanical toy.

3. caused by or derived from machinery:

   mechanical propulsion.

4. using machine parts only.
5. brought about by friction, abrasion, etc.:

   a mechanical bond between stones; mechanical erosion.

6. pertaining to the design, use, understanding, etc., of tools and machinery:

   the mechanical trades; mechanical ability.

7. acting or performed without spontaneity, spirit, individuality, etc.:

   a mechanical performance.

8. habitual; routine; automatic:

   Practice that step until it becomes mechanical.

9. belonging or pertaining to the subject matter of mechanics. mechanics.
10. pertaining to, or controlled or effected by, physical forces.
11. (of a philosopher or philosophical theory) explaining phenomena as due to mechanical action or the material forces of the universe.
12. subordinating the spiritual to the material; materialistic.

noun

1. a mechanical object, part, device, etc.
2. Printing. a sheet of stiff paper on which has been pasted artwork and type proofs for making a printing plate; paste-up.
3. Obsolete. a skilled manual laborer, as a carpenter or other artisan.

mechanical

/ mɪˈkænɪkəl /

adjective

1. made, performed, or operated by or as if by a machine or machinery

   a mechanical process

2. concerned with machines or machinery
3. relating to or controlled or operated by physical forces
4. of or concerned with mechanics
5. (of a gesture, etc) automatic; lacking thought, feeling, etc
6. philosophy accounting for phenomena by physically determining forces
7. (of paper, such as newsprint) made from pulp that has been mechanically ground and contains impurities

noun

1. printing another name for camera-ready copy
2. archaic.
   another word for mechanic

Derived Forms

• meˈchanically, adverb
• meˈchanicalness, noun
• meˈchanicalism, noun

Other Words From

• me·chani·cal·ly adverb
• me·chani·cal·ness me·chani·cali·ty noun
• nonme·chani·cal adjective
• nonme·chani·cal·ly adverb
• nonme·chani·cal·ness noun
• quasi-me·chani·cal adjective
• quasi-me·chani·cal·ly adverb
• semi·me·chani·cal adjective
• super·me·chani·cal adjective
• super·me·chani·cal·ly adverb
• unme·chani·cal adjective
• unme·chani·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of mechanical¹

1375–1425; late Middle English, equivalent to mechanic mechanical + -al ¹; mechanic

Example Sentences

Later the same year, there was a mechanical and electrical failure which led to more sewage flowing into Clackers Brook.

From BBC

The pilot, Peterson Conway, told the news station he was flying from Carmel, where he lives, to Palo Alto when he began to have mechanical issues.

From Los Angeles Times

Lalas spent a formulative part of his childhood in Greece, where his father, Demetrius, a professor of mechanical engineering and meteorology, was director of the national observatory in Athens.

From Los Angeles Times

Items for repair include old toys and games, mechanical coin banks, hand-cranked coffee grinders — most restorers seem to have done one of those — locks, furniture, pinball machines, gumball machines, espresso makers, typewriters, pencil sharpeners, cash registers, leather goods, artworks, knives, guns, shoes and all sorts of gizmos and gadgets from the predigital age.

From Los Angeles Times

Many Republicans have ridden the mechanical bull named “Loyalty to Trump” in the hopes of hanging on long enough to see it pay off.

From Salon

Related Words

• automated
• automatic