apparatus
Americannoun
plural
apparatus, apparatuses-
a group or combination of instruments, machinery, tools, materials, etc., having a particular function or intended for a specific use.
Our town has excellent fire-fighting apparatus.
-
any complex instrument or mechanism for a particular purpose.
- Synonyms:
- contrivance, contraption, device, appliance, machine
-
any system or systematic organization of activities, functions, processes, etc., directed toward a specific goal.
the apparatus of government; espionage apparatus.
-
Physiology. a group of structurally different organs working together in the performance of a particular function.
the digestive apparatus.
noun
-
a collection of instruments, machines, tools, parts, or other equipment used for a particular purpose
-
a machine having a specific function
breathing apparatus
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the means by which something operates; organization
the apparatus of government
-
anatomy any group of organs having a specific function
Usage
Plural word for apparatus The plural form of apparatus can be either apparatus or apparatuses. The appropriate plural form depends on whether the term is considered to be a mass (uncountable) noun (like air or rice) or a count noun (like apple or car). When used as a mass noun, the correct plural form is apparatus, as in The lab apparatus must be removed before the lab can be painted. When used as a count noun, the correct plural form is apparatuses, as in The ship is equipped with apparatuses for security, cargo loading, and more. The plurals of several other singular words that end in -s are also formed the same way, such as pass/passes, lotus/lotuses, and dress/dresses. In some nouns that end in -us that are derived from Latin, the irregular plural ending -i may be used instead, as in fungus/fungi or cactus/cacti. These nouns are considered irregular nouns.However, this ending is not valid for apparatus. Apparati would be an invalid plural for apparatus.
Etymology
Origin of apparatus
1620–30; < Latin apparātus equipment, originally the act of equipping, preparation, equivalent to apparā ( re ) to prepare ( ap- ap- 1 + parāre; prepare ) + -tus suffix of v. action
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.
"It's laughable that for almost two months, the entire security apparatus of Uganda has invested billions of taxpayers' money to search for me everywhere, but they failed to get me," he continued.
From Barron's • Mar. 14, 2026
Dyszel built frames for neutron tracking detectors and assembled them within the experimental apparatus.
From Science Daily • Mar. 13, 2026
Reza believes weakening the government's military and security apparatus could shift the balance of power.
From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026
But Iran’s state apparatus was built to outlive individual leaders, thanks to layered and overlapping centers of political and military power.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026
The analysts knew that Soviet engineers had placed sensors and alarms around the whole apparatus.
From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau
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.
