mechanism

noun

mech·​a·​nism ˈme-kə-ˌni-zəm 

1

a

: a piece of machinery (see machinery sense 1)

The camera's shutter mechanism is broken.

b

: a process, technique, or system for achieving a result

the mechanisms of peace

—F. D. Roosevelt

2

: mechanical operation or action : working sense 2

he acknowledges nothing besides matter and motion; so that all must be performed either by mechanism or by accident

—Richard Bentley

3

: a doctrine that holds natural processes (as of life) to be mechanically determined and capable of complete explanation by the laws of physics and chemistry

4

: the fundamental processes involved in or responsible for an action, reaction, or other natural phenomenon

meteorologists believe that this pressure jump is the mechanism responsible for storms and tornadoes

—Think

compare defense mechanism

Examples of mechanism in a Sentence

The camera's shutter mechanism is broken.

Scientists are studying the body's mechanisms for controlling weight.

There is no mechanism in place for enforcing the new law.

a legal mechanism to prevent lobbyists from exerting unfair influence

psychological mechanisms for dealing with a tragic loss

Recent Examples on the Web

The goal is to show offsets can, indeed, be a credible and effective way to slow warming, rather than a Rube Goldberg-like mechanism enabling companies to skirt their climate commitments. —Evan Halper, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2024

Others use a tilting mechanism—imagine if a helicopter rotor rotated forward to become a propeller. —Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024

His confession, through a series of time jumps, is the mechanism in which his journey is illustrated and requires some mental acrobatics to follow. —Alli Rosenbloom, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024

According to the San Diego Zoo, these low-frequency calls may be a mechanism okapi mothers developed to communicate safely with their calves without being discovered. —Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 11 Apr. 2024

Other changes would include repairing water supply lines in the enclave, and creating a more effective mechanism to ensure military activities don't endanger aid workers. —Shannon K. Crawford, ABC News, 11 Apr. 2024

Whatever the mechanism, the Trump team’s view is simple and is backed by public and private polling: The more candidates in the race, the better for Mr. Trump. —Rebecca Davis O’Brien, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024

The dark ride uses a vehicle mechanism in which riders legs dangle below them in order to simulate flying. —Erin Clements, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024

In it, Fox talks about the shock of his diagnosis, which led to heavy drinking and other coping mechanisms, the massive impact on his family and his feelings about the future. —Lianne Kolirin, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1662, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing mechanism

• defense mechanism
• escape mechanism
• survival mechanism

Kids Definition

mechanism

noun

mech·​a·​nism ˈmek-ə-ˌniz-əm 

1

: a piece of machinery

2

a

: the parts by which a machine operates

b

: the process, way, or system for achieving a goal

the mechanism of government

3

: the processes involved in or responsible for a natural occurrence (as evolution or an action or reaction)

Medical Definition

mechanism

noun

mech·​a·​nism ˈmek-ə-ˌniz-əm 

1

: a piece of machinery

2

a

: a bodily process or function

the mechanism of healing

b

: the combination of mental processes by which a result is obtained

psychological mechanisms

3

: the fundamental physical or chemical processes involved in or responsible for an action, reaction, or other natural phenomenon

mechanistic

ˌmek-ə-ˈnis-tik 

adjective