machinist

American  

[muh-shee-nist] / məˈʃi nɪst /

noun

1. a person who operates machinery, especially a skilled operator of machine tools.

2. a person who makes or repairs machines.

3. U.S. Navy. a warrant officer whose duty is to assist the engineering officer in the engine room.

---

machinist British  

/ məˈʃiːnɪst /

noun

1. a person who operates machines to cut or process materials

2. a maker or repairer of machines

---

Etymology

Origin of machinist

First recorded in 1700–10; machine + -ist

Example Sentences

Wei, now 25, held a U.S. security clearance as a machinist’s mate and had access to sensitive national defense information about the ship’s weapons and desalination systems.

From Los Angeles Times

As America moved to mechanized textile mills, telegraphs and urbanization, that created demand for factory workers, machinists and communications clerks.

From The Wall Street Journal

Boeing’s BA -0.54%decrease; red down pointing triangle unionized machinists ratified a new collective bargaining agreement Thursday, ending a nearly 15-week strike that took a toll on workers responsible for producing jet fighters.

From The Wall Street Journal

The story begins in Boston, at the close of the Civil War, when machinist Ira Steward penned a pamphlet called “The Eight Hour Movement.”

From The Wall Street Journal

The St. Louis machinists walked off the job in early August after narrowly rejecting an earlier four-year contract proposal.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• operator
• worker