ergonomic
Americanadjective
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designed to be comfortable, safe, and efficient to use, especially in or as a work environment.
These headphones have an ergonomic design and soft ear cups.
Check out our top tips for an ergonomic home office.
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relating to or concerned with ergonomics, the study of people's interaction with their work environment.
Ergonomic research has found that weight and screen size are important factors in cell phone design.
adjective
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of or relating to ergonomics
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designed to minimize physical effort and discomfort, and hence maximize efficiency
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of ergonomic
First recorded in 1950–55; see origin at ergonomics ( def. )
Explanation
Something that is designed to work smoothly with the human body is designed to be ergonomic. If your fingers ache after using the computer, you may need an ergonomic keyboard. Or you could play fewer video games. Ergon, the Latin word for "work." The study of ergonomics looks at making man and machine work together most efficiently, especially in the workplace. An ergonomic design is one that offers a worker comfort while using it. It can be considered important for everything from an office chair to a keyboard, as Designer Yves Behar commented that "Ergonomics is about design that treats the body well." The word appeared in 1950, when the study of efficiency in the workplace became a science (even if your lumpy desk chair tells you otherwise).
Vocabulary lists containing ergonomic
2015 Spelling Bee - Words from Round 2
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The Field Guide to the North American Teenager
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Little Brother
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard keeps your hands spread apart, opening up your shoulders for better posture while sitting or standing.
From The Verge • Apr. 28, 2022
Ergonomic boards also allow you to position your hands farther apart to relieve strain on your shoulders, or tent the keyboard to relieve your wrists.
From The Verge • Mar. 4, 2022
When throwing Tab in wrong bucket, made Ergonomic Error, by throwing from far away, missing, having to get up and rethrow.
From The New Yorker • Oct. 8, 2012
Ergonomic experts have been telling us for years to use a trackball.
From Inc • Feb. 27, 2012
Ergonomic furniture design�that is, designing for the human frame�is confirming what some people suspected long ago: the mind seems to work better when the body is firmly and comfortably supported in a reclining position.
From Time Magazine Archive
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
