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

Her work often incorporates mechanical elements, screens, or lights that involve high levels of customization and engineering. —Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026

ByteDance’s legal team will now work on resolving and identifying legal issues surrounding the launch, while its engineering team will reportedly work on adding safeguards to stop the model from generating content that could provoke copyright disputes. —Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 15 Mar. 2026

At some point this past fall, Hegseth’s under-secretary for research and engineering, the former Uber executive Emil Michael, reviewed the Pentagon’s arrangement with Anthropic and was dismayed to find that Claude could not be deployed according to the government’s every whim. —Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026

Instead of planning a regular viaduct-style bridge, with columns buried in the seabed, civil engineering pioneer Thomas Telford planned a structure that floated above the strait, tethered to the land on each side. —Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 14 Mar. 2026

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)