machinery

noun ma·chin·ery \ mə-ˈshē-nə-rē , -ˈshēn-rē \

Updated on: 14 Apr 2018

Definition of machinery

plural machineries

1 a : machines in general or as a functioning unit

b : the working parts of a machine

2 : the means or system by which something is kept in action or a desired result is obtained

the machinery of government

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Examples of machinery in a Sentence

Some of the mill's machinery was damaged in the fire.
a piece of farm machinery
Something was clogging the machinery.
The United Nations has set up machinery for mediation.

Recent Examples of machinery from the Web

Both revealed for the first time, in great detail, with sangfroid and in-depth analysis, the machinery of the concentration camps.

— Longreads, "When Sartre and Beauvoir Started a Magazine," 10 Apr. 2018
The tractor and machinery maker employed 5,600 at its peak, including 3,700 production workers and skilled tradesmen represented by United Auto Workers.

— john schmid, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Foxconn's promised jobs boom could miss neighboring city Racine," 6 Apr. 2018
The machinery used by the Hercules company in the manufacture of potash and by products of kelp will be utilized by the International Oil & Transport company in the development of this plant.

— sandiegouniontribune.com, "Oil company takes over Chula Vista explosives plant," 6 Apr. 2018
The state Democratic Party machinery worked to help Dallet win and reveled in her victory.

— eric bradner, CNN, "Walker warns GOP 'at risk of a #BlueWave' after Democratic win in Wisconsin court race," 4 Apr. 2018
The pumps deliver billions of gallons of water to urban Southern California and to San Joaquin Valley farms, but the machinery has degraded the Delta's eco-system and driven some endangered fish species to the brink of extinction.

— ryan sabalow and dale kasler, sacbee, "Southern California water agency backs off plan to finance both Delta tunnels | The Sacramento Bee," 2 Apr. 2018
Lighthizer’s office has said the list will include products in aerospace, information and communication technology, and machinery.

— Bloomberg.com, "Investors Nervous as U.S. Drafts China Tariff List: Trade Update," 28 Mar. 2018
Phages kill in the same way as many viruses; a phage infects a host cell, usurps its cellular machinery to make copies of itself, then the clone army bursts out, destroying the host cell in the process.

— beth mole, Ars Technica, "Virus fished from pond cures man’s deadly antibiotic-resistant infection," 20 Mar. 2018
Jaipur has maintained its centuries-old handmade artisanal practices at a time when most cities have migrated to machinery.

— monica mendal, Vogue, "A Decadent Visit to Jaipur, Rajasthan’s Fabled Pink City," 23 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'machinery.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.