1
as in apparatus
a mechanical part or group of parts used to perform a specific task
The printer's paper feeding mechanism is jammed.
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2
as in system
a series of actions used to achieve an end
She was stunned to learn that there was no mechanism in place to remedy the problem.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mechanism
The flip-down mechanism on the shelves makes assembling this 67-inch-tall foldable bookcase very simple.
—
Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
Prediction markets use these contract mechanisms to allow people to bet on whether certain events will happen.
—Jared Perlo, NBC news, 30 Mar. 2026
Stadium funding doesn’t come directly out of school budgets but through mechanisms such as hotel and alcohol taxes and state lotteries.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026
Given the large number of draft-eligible people, which should include women, there would be necessary and inevitable deferments, exemptions and other mechanisms that would essentially replicate the situation of previous drafts.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mechanism
Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
Prediction markets use these contract mechanisms to allow people to bet on whether certain events will happen.
—Jared Perlo, NBC news, 30 Mar. 2026
Stadium funding doesn’t come directly out of school budgets but through mechanisms such as hotel and alcohol taxes and state lotteries.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026
Given the large number of draft-eligible people, which should include women, there would be necessary and inevitable deferments, exemptions and other mechanisms that would essentially replicate the situation of previous drafts.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mechanism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mechanism
Noun
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Operated by Heartland Fire and Rescue, the station is located in Fletcher Hills and was constructed in 1960 with a single apparatus bay and a shared dormitory.—
Hannah Elsmore,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
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Mullin inherits a rapidly expanding immigration-enforcement apparatus at DHS, amped up by $170 billion in additional funding.—
Nick Miroff,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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High pressure systems, usually related to clear and warm conditions, and low pressure systems, often linked to storms, kind of ride around the globe on the jet stream, McEvoy said.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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At one point, a flight attendant asked him to end the session because the plane was about ready to depart and the cellphone could interfere with the communication systems.—
CBS Chicago Team,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Consider a misting device or a drop fountain.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
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Police were alerted about the cash-trap devices by a bank, which then told the customer, McKeever said.—
Tom Dougherty,
CBS News,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But the revival is part of a national trend toward old-school testing methods like in-class pen-and-paper exams and oral tests to prevent AI use for assignments on laptops.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 Mar. 2026
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Using an online filing method generally can result in fewer delays and faster confirmation.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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For a more active approach to wellbeing, the second-floor gym offers treadmills, elliptical machines, and weight-training equipment, and hosts yoga and pilates sessions.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Apr. 2026
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The two-tone speed machine utilized a lot of pre-existing hardware but did feature an all-new chassis and composite bodywork, made from a mixture of carbon fiber and Kevlar.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Part of what contributes to the slim odds is the fact that Morris is seeking to move the process forward using Christian arbitration, while Gateway wants to use a standard legal approach, Morris’ attorney Bill Mateja told the Star-Telegram last July.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Apr. 2026
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Miami-Dade’s then-program administrator, Cristina Reboredo Leon, streamlined the process by having the Alliance for Aging — a county program that oversees such payments — expedite the monthly subsidies.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Seven stacks of tiny paper cups were arranged to the left, next to packets of Nescafé, pouches of two-minute noodles, and a double gas burner connected to the cylinder—the main tool of his trade.—
Nathan Heller,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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Abbott’s use of AL16 as a marketing tool worked.—
David Hilzenrath,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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By the time the surgeon finished the procedure and lifted the surgical draping, Writer’s skin was blue from lack of oxygen.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
27 Mar. 2026
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The facility’s employees didn’t know the correct dishwashing procedure, holding temperature requirements and wiping towels handling procedure.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mechanism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mechanism. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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