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adj B1 Intermediate Common

mechanical

muh-KA-nih-kuhl

Mechanical (adj) means relating to machines or the physical forces and motion they involve. Example: “The factory relies on mechanical arms to assemble the parts.”

adj
1
Relating to machines or the physical forces and motion they involve.
"The factory relies on mechanical arms to assemble the parts."
2
Done automatically or without real thought, as if performed by a machine.
"His apology sounded mechanical, like he'd said it a hundred times before."

How to Use Mechanical

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishRelating to machines or machine-like movement, or done in a robotic, thoughtless way.

Common pairings
mechanical engineer mechanical failure mechanical response

Word Forms

more mechanical comparative, mechanicals plural, most mechanical superlative

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Test yourself on “mechanical” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The factory relies on _____ arms to assemble the parts.

Etymology

From Middle English mechanical, from Old French mecanique, from Latin mechanicus, from Greek mēkhanikós.

Origin: Latin

Related Words

Rhymes for mechanical

See all rhymes for mechanical →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “mechanical” mean?

The word “mechanical” means relating to machines or the physical forces and motion they involve. In plain terms, relating to machines or machine-like movement, or done in a robotic, thoughtless way.

How do you pronounce “mechanical”?

“Mechanical” is pronounced muh-KA-nih-kuhl (/məˈkænəkəl/ in IPA).

How do you use “mechanical” in a sentence?

Here is “mechanical” used in a sentence: “The factory relies on mechanical arms to assemble the parts.”

What part of speech is “mechanical”?

“Mechanical” is an adjective.

Where does the word “mechanical” come from?

The word “mechanical” comes from Latin. From Middle English mechanical, from Old French mecanique, from Latin mechanicus, from Greek mēkhanikós.

Is “mechanical” a common word?

“Mechanical” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “mechanical” have?

“Mechanical” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to machines or the physical forces and motion they involve.

What is the difference between "mechanical" and "automatic"?

"Mechanical" relates to machines and the physical forces and motion they involve, or to actions done without real thought. "Automatic" means happening by itself without direct human control. An action can be mechanical, in the sense of routine and unthinking, without being automatic in the machine sense.

What is the difference between "mechanical" and "electrical"?

"Mechanical" refers to machines and the physical forces, moving parts, and motion involved. "Electrical" refers specifically to electricity and electric current. A mechanical fault involves moving parts, while an electrical fault involves wiring or power.

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