# apparatus

/ˌæpɝˈætəs/ (US) · /ˌæpəɹˈeɪtəs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/apparatus
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. technical equipment

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

the set of tools, machines, or instruments used for a particular job or scientific experiment.

For teachers: a collective term for the technical equipment or machinery needed for a particular activity or purpose.

- The laboratory was filled with expensive apparatus for testing water quality.
- The researchers spent several weeks calibrating the delicate apparatus before they could begin the high-pressure chemical synthesis.

Usage: Usually treated as an uncountable or collective noun, though 'apparatuses' is the standard plural form.

### 2. organisational system

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Academic

the complex system of a government or organization that makes it work.

For teachers: the complex structure of a particular organisation or system, especially a political or bureaucratic one.

- It is difficult to change the state apparatus because it has so many layers of rules.
- The party maintained control by embedding its loyalists deep within the administrative apparatus of the regional government.

### 3. gymnastics equipment

noun · CEFR B2

the specific pieces of equipment that gymnasts use, like the bars or the rings.

For teachers: the various pieces of equipment on which gymnasts perform their exercises.

- She practiced her routine on every apparatus, including the balance beam and the uneven bars.
- The gymnast moved fluidly from one apparatus to the next, demonstrating remarkable versatility across both the rings and the vault.

### 4. biological system

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a group of organs in the body that work together to do a job.

For teachers: a group of organs or structures that work together to perform a specific biological function.

- The breathing apparatus in humans includes the lungs and the windpipe.
- Damage to the vestibular apparatus in the inner ear can lead to chronic issues with balance and spatial orientation.

## Examples

- The laboratory has all the necessary apparatus for the experiment.
- Firefighters checked their breathing apparatus before entering the smoke-filled building to ensure their safety.
- The state's bureaucratic apparatus proved too slow to respond to the sudden economic shift, highlighting the need for more agile administrative structures.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.