assembly-line

1 of 2

adjective

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

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

Adjective

Aligned along a single axis, these apertures create a perspective that evokes the assembly-line logic of the automotive industry. — Sarah Belmont For Artnews, Robb Report, 14 Oct. 2026

Tropical storms have spawned in what seems like assembly-line fashion in recent weeks, as El Nino conditions that emerged in June have caused waters to grow warmer than normal, setting off a chain of unusual weather around much of the world. — John Raby, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026

Noun

On Monday, Chinese commercial startup Deep Blue Aerospace announced that the 5-meter-diameter (16ft) stainless steel propellant tank for its Nebula-2 rocket has rolled off the assembly line. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2026

Because VisionQuest, like so many of the studio’s products being whisked off its multimedia assembly line, is not just designed to play off previous installments. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1925, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1914, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for assembly-line

• aconitine
• anopheline
• antipyrine
• bromocriptine
• chlorhexidine
• clomipramine
• creatinine
• desipramine
• guanethidine
• heterodyne
• imipramine
• meperidine

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