assembly line

American  

noun

1. an arrangement of machines, tools, and workers in which a product is assembled by having each perform a specific, successive operation on an incomplete unit as it passes by in a series of stages organized in a direct line.

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assembly line British  

noun

1. a sequence of machines, tools, operations, workers, etc, in a factory, arranged so that at each stage a further process is carried out

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assembly line Cultural  

1. A line of factory workers and equipment along which a product being assembled passes consecutively from operation to operation until completed.

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Assembly lines are found in many industries but are particularly associated with automobile manufacturing.

Etymology

Origin of assembly line

An Americanism dating back to 1910–15

Example Sentences

Tesla said last month that the first Cybercab had rolled off the assembly line as the company aims to begin volume production of a vehicle that lacks both pedals and a steering wheel.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 4, 2026

Together with Foxconn, it has built a modest assembly line in Houston, where it makes AI servers, which will be used to power more AI features that Apple adds to its devices.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 24, 2026

In Chipotle’s case, Ells freely admits his muse was taquerías in San Francisco’s Mission District that prepped burritos in the assembly line manner and size his company would soon imitate.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2026

Modi and Macron will also inaugurate on Tuesday India's first helicopter final assembly line via videoconference from Mumbai, a joint venture between India's Tata Group and Airbus.

From Barron's • Feb. 16, 2026

Uncle Clyde came to work at one of the Ford car factories, on the assembly line where they made parts for the machines the army used in the war.

From "Betty Before X" by Ilyasah Shabazz and Renée Watson

Related Words

• production line