as·sem·bly-line
ə-ˈsem-blē-ˌlīn 
: made by or as if by an assembly line
especially
: lacking originality or creativity
bored by the novel's assembly-line plot
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
Alex Bacon, Artforum, 10 Feb. 2026
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
Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 23 Feb. 2026
In Chipotle’s case, Ells freely admits his muse was taquerías in San Francisco’s Mission District that prepped burritos in the assembly line manner and size his company would soon imitate.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for assembly-line
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Adjective
The process of making those larger paintings has a little bit of an assembly-line aspect to it.
—Alex Bacon, Artforum, 10 Feb. 2026
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
Noun
Every minute, a new pallet of roof shingles rolls off assembly lines in this cavernous factory south of Atlanta.
—Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 23 Feb. 2026
In Chipotle’s case, Ells freely admits his muse was taquerías in San Francisco’s Mission District that prepped burritos in the assembly line manner and size his company would soon imitate.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for assembly-line
Cite this Entry
“Assembly-line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assembly-line. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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