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

The incident was due to an engineering failure aboard the warship, the US 7th Fleet said in a statement to CNN, another setback as concerns mount over the heavy strain on the US Navy due to the Iran war and global commitments. — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026

Last year, the services abandoned recruiting efforts at aprestigious Black engineering event in Baltimore, where recruiters had historically sought candidates with high-demand technical skills. — Steven Beynon, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026

Disney will also provide operational oversight though the new park will be operated by Miral which is contracting Disney's Imagineers – architects named after their imaginative use of engineering – to design it. — Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026

Every time a gear turns, a pump lifts water, or a road survives difficult terrain, part of that ancient engineering legacy continues to work. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 16 Aug. 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)