# mechanism

/ˈmɛkəˌnɪzəm/ (US) · /mˈɛkənˌɪzəm/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. mechanical parts

noun · CEFR B2

a set of moving parts inside a machine that perform a specific task.

For teachers: a system of interconnected parts, such as gears or levers, designed to convert motion or control power within a machine.

- The locking mechanism on the front door is broken and needs to be replaced.
- The clockmaker spent hours cleaning the intricate mechanism, ensuring that every tiny gear turned without friction.

Usage: Often used with 'locking', 'firing', or 'internal'.

### 2. a process or system

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

a way of doing something or a process that makes something happen.

For teachers: a natural or established process by which something takes place or is brought about.

- The body has a natural mechanism for healing small cuts on the skin.
- Economists are studying the mechanism by which interest rate changes influence consumer spending in the long term.

Usage: Commonly followed by the preposition 'for' or 'by which'.

### 3. coping or defense

noun · CEFR B2

a way that your mind deals with difficult or painful feelings.

For teachers: an unconscious mental process used to protect oneself from anxiety or emotional pain.

- Using humor can be a helpful coping mechanism when you are feeling stressed.
- Psychologists often identify denial as a primary defense mechanism used by patients to avoid confronting traumatic memories.

Usage: Almost always appears in the phrases 'coping mechanism' or 'defense mechanism'.

### 4. philosophical theory

noun · CEFR C2 · Academic · Formal

the belief that everything in nature can be explained by physical causes.

For teachers: the philosophical doctrine that all natural phenomena can be explained by physical causes and mechanical laws.

- Early scientists often viewed the universe through the lens of mechanism.
- The rise of mechanism in the seventeenth century challenged traditional views that attributed purpose or soul to natural objects.

Teaching tip: This sense is highly specialized; in general conversation, 'mechanism' almost always refers to a physical part or a process.

## Examples

- The locking mechanism on the door is broken.
- The government needs to establish a formal mechanism for citizens to report local corruption safely.
- Evolutionary biology describes the mechanism of natural selection as the primary driver of adaptation within a population over successive generations.

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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.