machinery
6 synonyms for machinery, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Machines considered together, especially the equipment used in a factory or industry.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
How to use machinery
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
heavy machinery
the machinery of government
industrial machinery
Etymology
From machine + the suffix -ery, following the pattern of French machinerie.
Full origin of machinery →Frequently asked questions
What does “machinery” mean?
The word “machinery” means machines considered together, especially the equipment used in a factory or industry. In plain terms, either physical machines as a group, or the underlying system that makes something function.
How do you pronounce “machinery”?
“Machinery” is pronounced muh-SHEE-nuh-ree (/məˈʃiːnəɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “machinery” in a sentence?
Here is “machinery” used in a sentence: “The plant invested heavily in new machinery to increase output.”
What part of speech is “machinery”?
“Machinery” is a noun.
Where does the word “machinery” come from?
The word “machinery” comes from French. From machine + the suffix -ery, following the pattern of French machinerie.
Is “machinery” a common word?
“Machinery” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “machinery” have?
“Machinery” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: machines considered together, especially the equipment used in a factory or industry.
Is machinery singular or plural?
Machinery is an uncountable noun, so it takes a singular verb: "the machinery is running smoothly." Standard English does not allow "a machinery" or "machineries"; say "a machine" or "a piece of machinery" instead.
What is the difference between machine and machinery?
A machine is a single device and is countable: one machine, two machines. Machinery refers to machines considered together, especially the equipment of a factory or industry, and it is uncountable.
What counts as heavy machinery?
Heavy machinery means large, powerful industrial equipment such as excavators, cranes, and bulldozers. The phrase is familiar from safety warnings like "do not operate heavy machinery," which appear on some medicine labels.
