Word
mechanical
Phoneticsme·chan·i·cal, stress on the second syllable
US/məˈkænɪkəɫ/
UK/mɪkˈænɪkəl/
Definitions
01related to machines
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. connected with machines or how they are made and used.
adj. relating to the design, construction, and operation of machinery.
“The car broke down because of a mechanical problem with the engine.”
“The engineers identified a mechanical failure in the cooling system that had caused the entire production line to halt unexpectedly.”
Antonyms
02automatic or without thought
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. done without thinking, like a machine.
adj. performed or acting without conscious thought or expression; automatic and often lacking emotion.
“He gave a mechanical wave to the crowd as he walked past.”
“Her response was entirely mechanical, suggesting she had rehearsed the statement so many times that it no longer held any personal meaning.”
Antonyms
03physics of forces
C1 · Advanced Science Academic · Technical
adj. related to the branch of science that studies how physical forces affect objects.
adj. relating to the branch of physics concerned with the motion of bodies and the forces acting upon them.
“The teacher explained the mechanical energy of a swinging pendulum.”
“The research paper explores the mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes under extreme pressure and temperature conditions.”
04skilled with machines
B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal
adj. good at understanding or fixing machines.
adj. possessing an innate or developed aptitude for understanding and repairing machinery.
“My brother is very mechanical and can fix almost anything in the house.”
“Growing up on a farm, she developed a mechanical mind that allowed her to troubleshoot complex irrigation systems without formal training.”
05equipment failure
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Sports Informal · Technical
n. a situation where a machine or piece of equipment stops working.
n. an instance of technical or equipment failure, particularly in a competitive or high-stakes context.
“The cyclist lost the race after suffering a mechanical on the final hill.”
“Despite a strong start, the driver was forced to retire from the Grand Prix following a terminal mechanical in the third lap.”
Synonyms
06a manual worker
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Archaic · Literary
n. a person who does physical work with their hands.
n. a manual labourer or artisan; often used in literary contexts to refer to uneducated workers.
“The play features a group of mechanicals who are trying to put on a show.”
“Shakespeare's 'rude mechanicals' provide comic relief through their earnest but clumsy attempts to perform a classical tragedy for the Duke.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “mechanical” in context.
Verb
01. give a mechanical response
“He was so tired that he could only give a mechanical response to the interviewer's questions.”
verb + adj + noun
Adjective
02. mechanical breakdown
“The race car had to retire early after suffering a sudden mechanical breakdown on the third lap.”
adj + noun
03. mechanical failure
“The flight was delayed for three hours due to a minor mechanical failure in the engine.”
adj + noun
04. purely mechanical
“At first, learning to drive feels purely mechanical, but eventually it becomes second nature.”
adv + adj
Noun
05. mechanical device
“The old clock is a complex mechanical device that requires winding every morning.”
adj + noun
06. mechanical engineering
“She decided to study mechanical engineering because she was fascinated by how robots are built.”
adj + noun
07. mechanical skills
“His father taught him basic mechanical skills, like how to change a tire and check the oil.”
adj + noun
08. mechanical properties
Real-World Examples
“Greek police believe a mechanical fault may have caused a helicopter to crash moments before it was due to land on the island of Sifnos, killing a British couple on honeymoon and the pilot.” “This type of protein gives some silks both strength and toughness – two related but distinct mechanical properties.” Etymology
From Middle English mechanical, mechanicalle, mechanycalle, equivalent to mechanic + -al.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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