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Synonyms

engineering

American  
[en-juh-neer-ing] / ˌɛn dʒəˈnɪər ɪŋ /

noun

  • engineering
    plural
  1. the art or science of making practical application of the knowledge of pure sciences, as physics or chemistry, as in the construction of engines, bridges, buildings, mines, ships, and chemical plants.

  2. the action, work, or profession of an engineer.

  3. Digital Technology. the art or process of designing and programming computer systems.

    computer engineering;

    software engineering.

  4. skillful or artful contrivance; maneuvering.


engineering British  
/ ˌɛndʒɪˈnɪərɪŋ /

noun

  1. the profession of applying scientific principles to the design, construction, and maintenance of engines, cars, machines, etc ( mechanical engineering ), buildings, bridges, roads, etc ( civil engineering ), electrical machines and communication systems ( electrical engineering ), chemical plant and machinery ( chemical engineering ), or aircraft ( aeronautical engineering ) See also military engineering

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

engineering Scientific  
/ ĕn′jə-nîrĭng /
  1. The application of science to practical uses such as the design of structures, machines, and systems. Engineering has many specialities such as civil engineering, chemical engineering, and mechanical engineering.


Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

Etymology

Origin of engineering

First recorded in 1710–20; engineer + -ing 1

Explanation

If you're good at engineering that means you're able to apply scientific or mathematical ideas to real-world projects like designing a bridge, building a radio tower, and of course, designing engines. Think of engineering as the field where science, math, and technology meet. If you like to understand how things work and like building new things even more, then consider going into engineering. The word comes, predictably enough, from the word engine. You wouldn't want a poet designing the engine of your airplane, would you? Me neither.

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Vocabulary lists containing engineering

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.

See Examples For:

Castillo pledged Thursday to continue her focus on animals and cosmetic genetic engineering.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 14, 2026

According to Ucas, engineering and technology subjects saw the biggest growth in university acceptances, up 16% from last year.

From BBC Aug. 13, 2026

He won a spot at Beijing’s prestigious Tsinghua University and was a party member before he graduated from its electrical engineering department in 1951.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 12, 2026

Zhu studied electrical engineering at Beijing's elite Tsinghua University and joined the Communist Party in 1949, the same year leader Mao Zedong declared the creation of the "New China".

From Barron's Aug. 12, 2026

“I should have majored in engineering or something,” she told Curt.

From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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