machinery

noun

ma·​chin·​ery mə-ˈshē-nə-rē How to pronounce machinery (audio)
-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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Because manganese is important in machinery production, demand for manganese ore was considerably higher during both world wars. arkansasonline.com, 30 Nov. 2024 Mining firms also suck up massive quantities of water and deploy fleets of drill rigs, trucks, diggers, and other heavy machinery that collectively belch out up to 7 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Vince Beiser, WIRED, 30 Nov. 2024 Mayor products traded with them include items from the sectors of machinery and transportation, including cars and car parts, but also mineral fuels. Katharina Buchholz, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2024 Mines require fleets of drill rigs, trucks, diggers, and other heavy machinery, energy hogs that account for as much as seven percent of the world’s annual greenhouse gases. Vince Beiser, TIME, 29 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for machinery 

Word History

First Known Use

1731, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of machinery was in 1731

Dictionary Entries Near machinery

Cite this Entry

“Machinery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/machinery. Accessed 9 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

machinery

noun
ma·​chin·​ery mə-ˈshēn-(ə-)rē How to pronounce machinery (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on machinery

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