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

Specializing in architecture, engineering, environmental and construction services, HDR’s deep Midwestern roots date back to 1917 when the Henningson Engineering Company launched in Omaha to help rural towns keep pace with emerging power and water-treatment systems. —Amy Lynch, Kansas City Star, 14 Nov. 2025

Depreciation estimates, Madsen said, generally take into account assumptions such as technological obsolescence, maintenance, historical lifespans of similar equipment and internal engineering analysis. —Kif Leswing, CNBC, 14 Nov. 2025

That goal hinges on how diVine’s algorithms treat content from the outset, according to Satyam Dhar, a former Amazon and Adobe engineering leader who now leads AI infrastructure at Galileo. —Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025

The yard says the design and the majority of the engineering is already complete, with Sky expected to hit the seas in the spring of 2030. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 14 Nov. 2025

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)