assembly-line

1 of 2

adjective

as·​sem·​bly-line ə-ˈsem-blē-ˌlīn How to pronounce assembly-line (audio)
Synonyms of assembly-linenext
: made by or as if by an assembly line
especially : lacking originality or creativity
bored by the novel's assembly-line plot

assembly line

2 of 2

noun

1
: an arrangement of machines, equipment, and workers in which work passes from operation to operation in direct line until the product is assembled
2
: a process for turning out a finished product in a mechanically efficient manner
academic assembly lines

Examples of assembly-line in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
What comes through most vividly is the sense of forced placidity, the assembly-line-like control over life and activity this country club comes to represent. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 24 Jan. 2026 These evoke the detailed, all-encompassing assembly-line mural by Diego Rivera at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Erin Parish, Miami Herald, 5 Dec. 2025
Noun
Mahan agreed that modular construction could help increase housing production, noting that steel-frame building blocks produced on an assembly line could reduce costs by around 20%. Devan Patel, Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2026 Where Ford introduced the assembly line, Czinger deploys proprietary artificial-intelligence applications alongside next-generation fabrication—from custom 3-D printers to the chemical makeup of key materials—all developed in-house. Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 24 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for assembly-line

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1925, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1914, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of assembly-line was in 1914

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Assembly-line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assembly-line. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

assembly line

noun
: an arrangement of machines, equipment, and workers in which work passes from operation to operation in direct line until the product is assembled

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