ergonomics

noun

er·​go·​nom·​ics ˌər-gə-ˈnä-miks 

plural in form but singular or plural in construction

1

: an applied science concerned with designing and arranging things people use so that the people and things interact most efficiently and safely

called also biotechnology, human engineering, human factors

2

: the design characteristics of an object resulting especially from the application of the science of ergonomics

ergonomic

ˌər-gə-ˈnä-mik 

adjective

ergonomically

ˌər-gə-ˈnä-mi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

ergonomist

(ˌ)ər-ˈgä-nə-mist 

noun

Word History

Etymology

erg- + -nomics (as in economics)

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ergonomics

• bionomics
• economics
• atomics
• bombyx
• comics
• macroeconomics
• microeconomics

Kids Definition

ergonomics

singular or plural noun

er·​go·​nom·​ics ˌər-gə-ˈnäm-iks 

: a science concerned with designing and arranging things people use so that the people and things interact most efficiently and safely

ergonomic

-ik 

adjective

ergonomically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

ergonomics

noun, plural in form but singular or plural in construction

er·​go·​nom·​ics ˌər-gə-ˈnäm-iks 

1

: an applied science concerned with designing and arranging things people use so that the people and things interact most efficiently and safely

called also human engineering, human factors engineering

2

: the design characteristics of an object resulting especially from the application of the science of ergonomics

ergonomic

-ik 

adjective

ergonomically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb