engineering

noun

en·​gi·​neer·​ing ˌen-jə-ˈnir-iŋ 

1

: the activities or function of an engineer

2

a

: the application of science and mathematics by which the properties of matter and the sources of energy in nature are made useful to people

b

: the design and manufacture of complex products

software engineering

3

: calculated manipulation or direction (as of behavior)

social engineering

compare genetic engineering

Examples of engineering in a Sentence

This control panel is a good example of smart engineering.

Recent Examples on the Web

When a developer's credentials were used to launch a resource in an unfamiliar region at an unusual hour, the system automatically revoked the session and sent an alert to the security engineering team. —Chris Bowen, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025

Further complicating attacks, the physical addresses for GPUs aren’t exposed, even to a privileged user, making reverse engineering harder. —ArsTechnica, 14 July 2025

In 1967, Saroja Devi married Sri Harsha, an engineering contractor. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 July 2025

Its heat control features are built into the engineering. —Sixteen Ramos, USA Today, 12 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1697, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing engineering

• biomedical engineering
• chemical engineering
• electrical engineering
• genetic engineering
• geotechnical engineering
• human engineering
• industrial engineering
• knowledge engineering
• mechanical engineering
• social engineering
• traffic engineering

Rhymes for engineering

• commandeering
• disappearing
• domineering
• interfering
• overhearing
• persevering
• pioneering
• privateering
• profiteering
• racketeering
• reappearing
• volunteering

Kids Definition

engineering

noun

en·​gi·​neer·​ing ˌen-jə-ˈni(ə)r-iŋ 

: the science or profession of developing and using nature's power and resources in ways that are useful to people (as in designing and building roads, bridges, dams, or machines and in creating new products)