engineering

American  

[en-juh-neer-ing] / ˌɛn dʒəˈnɪər ɪŋ /

noun

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.

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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

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engineering Scientific  

/ ĕn′jə-nîr′ĭng /

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.

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Other Word Forms

• nonengineering
  noun
• preengineering
  adjective

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.

Example Sentences

SoftBank also plans to support regional research and development by working with local universities, engineering schools, and training institutions, focusing on the skills needed for the next generation of AI infrastructure.

From Barron's • May 31, 2026

Instead, companies will find uses for cheaper models and steer most employees to low-cost workflows, reserving the high token use for software engineering teams.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 31, 2026

"Being able to observe these structures is a fundamental breakthrough in materials science, and it gives us greater control over nanomaterial engineering."

From Science Daily • May 30, 2026

The transformations they are engineering will touch every human being; the decisions about how to engineer them will be made by very few.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026

I have a collection of math and engineering textbooks on the top shelf of my desk.

From "The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl" by Stacy McAnulty

Related Words

• architecture
• design
• metallurgy
• planning