mechanism

American  

[mek-uh-niz-uhm] / ˈmɛk əˌnɪz əm /

noun

• mechanisms
  plural

1. an assembly of moving parts performing a complete functional motion, often being part of a large machine; linkage.

2. the agency or means by which an effect is produced or a purpose is accomplished.

3. machinery or mechanical appliances in general.

4. the structure or arrangement of parts of a machine or similar device, or of anything analogous.

5. the mechanical part of something; any mechanical device.

   the mechanism of a clock.

6. routine methods or procedures; mechanics.

   the mechanism of government.

7. mechanical execution, as in painting or music; technique.

8. the theory that everything in the universe is produced by matter in motion; materialism.

9. Philosophy.

   1. the view that all natural processes are explicable in terms of classical mechanics.

   2. the view that all biological processes may be described in physicochemical terms.

10. Psychoanalysis. the habitual operation and interaction of psychological forces within an individual that assist in interpreting or dealing with the physical or psychological environment.

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mechanism British  

/ ˈmɛkəˌnɪzəm /

noun

1. a system or structure of moving parts that performs some function, esp in a machine

2. something resembling a machine in the arrangement and working of its parts

   the mechanism of the ear

3. any form of mechanical device or any part of such a device

4. a process or technique, esp of execution

   the mechanism of novel writing

5. philosophy

   1. the doctrine that human action can be explained in purely physical terms, whether mechanical or biological

   2. the explanation of phenomena in causal rather than teleological or essentialist terms

   3. the view that the task of science is to seek such explanations

   4. strict determinism Compare dynamism vitalism

6. psychoanal

   1. the ways in which psychological forces interact and operate

   2. a structure having an influence on the behaviour of a person, such as a defence mechanism

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• antimechanism
  noun
• mechanismic
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• mechanisms
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of mechanism

First recorded in 1655–65; from New Latin mēchanismus; Late Latin mēchanisma “contrivance,” from Greek mēchan(ḗ) machine + New Latin -ismus, Late Latin -isma -ism

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Explanation

Use the word mechanism to describe a process that has been set up to accomplish a particular goal. If you’ve set up a method for dealing with your sister when she annoys you, then you have a mechanism in place for establishing peace with your sister. The word mechanism came into the English language in the seventeenth century by way of the Latin word mechanismus, which traces back to the Greek word mekhane, meaning “device" or "means.” Mechanism still carries with it the meaning of “device” and can be used to describe a machine, but nowadays you are more likely to hear it used to describe a process for getting something done, such as "a mechanism for generating revenue" or "a crisis-resolution mechanism."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mechanism mechanisms

Stripe has a separate mechanism for AI bots, which can be used for Chase cards and other issuers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 13, 2026

When they extended their experimental findings to conditions on the early Earth, their calculations indicated that the mechanism might have generated hundreds of oceans' worth of water.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 12, 2026

Additional research will be needed to determine the contribution of this mechanism compared with water delivered by comets, meteorites, and other sources.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 12, 2026

The scandal has fanned questions about board oversight at Nvidia, which lacks a chairman, a named successor and a board refreshment mechanism.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 10, 2026

Finally, there must be a mechanism for publicizing one’s knowledge—Cardano, for example, publishes a book.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Although the condition has been recognized for years, scientists are still working to understand the specific thinking processes and brain mechanisms that contribute to it.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 12, 2026

To retain Huang at the helm, it may need to put in place new mechanisms or structures for monitoring national security risks that are credibly independent of him.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 10, 2026

Much of the experimental evidence comes from animals and laboratory studies, so additional research will be needed to determine how these mechanisms influence long-term health outcomes in people.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 9, 2026

Prominent companies and individuals have also recently called for mechanisms that would allow AI labs and countries to slow development in a coordinated way to buy time for alignment research.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 9, 2026

Humans, like many mammals, have hormonal and genetic mechanisms that help control procreation.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari

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Related Words

• agency
• operation
• procedure
• process
• system
• technique

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