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Synonyms

machinery

American  
[muh-shee-nuh-ree] / məˈʃi nə ri /

noun

plural

machineries
  1. an assemblage of machines or mechanical apparatuses.

    the machinery of a factory.

  2. the parts of a machine, collectively.

    the machinery of a watch.

  3. a group of people or a system by which action is maintained or by which some result is obtained.

    the machinery of government.

    Synonyms:
    setup, structure, organization
  4. a group of contrivances for producing stage effects.

  5. the group or aggregate of literary machines, especially those of supernatural agency epic machinery in an epic poem.


machinery British  
/ məˈʃiːnərɪ /

noun

  1. machines, machine parts, or machine systems collectively

  2. a particular machine system or set of machines

  3. a system similar to a machine

    the machinery of government

  4. literary devices used for effect in epic poetry

"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

Other Word Forms

  • antimachinery adjective

Etymology

Origin of machinery

First recorded in 1680–90; machine + -ery

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.

Emmett Spice Co. and relocating its machinery to Baltimore.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

“Our entire war machinery — missiles, radar, fighter jets — all need these heavy rare earths,” O’Connor said.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

On a tour of the facility, which is packed with expensive-looking machinery, Gassan explained the philosophy behind the clinic.

From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026

Across India, the quiet machinery of automation has been reshaping - and in many cases, eliminating - the jobs that the middle class was built on.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

He never did have any sense about machinery.

From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns