# mech

/ˈmɛk/ (US) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mech
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

a large robot that a person sits inside to control. You usually see these in science fiction movies, video games, or cartoons.

For teachers: a large, piloted robotic vehicle, typically humanoid in form, featured prominently in science fiction and gaming contexts. Often used as a shorthand for 'mecha'.

## Examples

- The pilot climbed into the mech to start the mission.
- In many futuristic strategy games, players must customize their mech with heavy armor and long-range weapons to survive the battlefield.
- The narrative explores the psychological bond between the pilot and the mech, suggesting that the machine is less a tool and more an extension of the operator's own nervous system.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in science fiction and gaming subcultures; often functions as a collective noun for the genre itself when used as 'mecha'.

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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.