machinery

noun

ma·​chin·​ery mə-ˈshē-nə-rē 

-ˈshēn-rē

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

Synonyms of machinery

• instrumentality
• vehicle
• instrument
• means
• agent
• mechanism
• organ

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 on the Web

In addition to the tens of thousands of trees lost, Avery said farm machinery and equipment were damaged, as well as the office and his home, which sits just feet from the farm. —Chelsea Torres, FOXNews.com, 13 Dec. 2025

Khaled Mashaal, a Hamas leader, said in an interview with Al Jazeera that Gaza needs the rehabilitation of hospitals, the entry of heavy machinery to remove rubble, and the opening of the Rafah crossing. —Arkansas Online, 12 Dec. 2025

The idea, Harder said, was to treat the movie like a documentary and not be bogged down by the logistics and machinery of massive company moves. —Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 12 Dec. 2025

Heavy machinery was required to find and pull Vardy from the wreckage, attorneys said. —Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1731, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for machinery

• deanery
• greenery
• scenery
• turbomachinery

Kids Definition

machinery

noun

ma·​chin·​ery mə-ˈshēn-(ə-)rē 

plural machineries

1

: machines in general

2

: the working parts of a machine or instrument

3

: the organization or system by which something is done or carried on

machinery of government