# mechanical

/məˈkænɪkəɫ/ (US) · /mɪkˈænɪkəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mechanical
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. related to machines

adjective · CEFR B2

connected with machines or how they are made and used.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. automatic or without thought

adjective · CEFR B2

done without thinking, like a machine.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. physics of forces

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic · Technical

related to the branch of science that studies how physical forces affect objects.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. skilled with machines

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

good at understanding or fixing machines.

For teachers: 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.

### 5. equipment failure

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Technical

a situation where a machine or piece of equipment stops working.

For teachers: 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.

### 6. a manual worker

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

a person who does physical work with their hands.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The car has a mechanical problem that needs fixing.
- The engineer spent the afternoon repairing the mechanical parts of the factory's conveyor belt.
- Her response was entirely mechanical, suggesting she had rehearsed the apology so many times that it no longer carried any genuine emotional weight.

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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.