mechanic
Americannoun
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a person who repairs and maintains machinery, motors, etc..
an automobile mechanic.
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a worker who is skilled in the use of tools, machines, equipment, etc.
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Slang. a person skilled in the dishonest handling of cards, dice, or other objects used in games of chance.
noun
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a person skilled in maintaining or operating machinery, motors, etc
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archaic a common labourer
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of mechanic
1350–1400; Middle English: mechanical < Latin mēchanicus < Greek mēchanikós, equivalent to mēchan ( ḗ ) machine + -ikos -ic
Explanation
A mechanic is a person who builds or repairs engines or other machines. Mechanics are trained to use special tools and often work in shops or garages. If you are planning to be a mechanic, you have to be prepared to get your hands dirty. The most common type of mechanic works on vehicles like cars, motorcycles, tractors, or airplanes. If your car is making a strange noise, you should probably take it to a mechanic. The oldest meaning of this word was simply "laborer," or "person who works with his hands," from the Greek root mekhanikos, "engineer." The current sense of mechanic came into use along with the popularity of the automobile.
Vocabulary lists containing mechanic
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.
See Examples For:
Hamilton hit the mechanic on the front right tyre as he accelerated away, immediately radioing to check he was OK, which was confirmed by the team.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
Hire an independent mechanic to look at the vehicle.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026
The only way for drivers to know if the parts—or counterfeit versions of them—are even in their cars is to pay to have a mechanic inspect them.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
Gustavo, a 60-year-old mechanic who declined to give his last name, is worried.
From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026
“We don’t have your permission to leave, my lord. Also, our ship is damaged. We need our mechanic, Leo Valdez, to repair the engine, unless you know of another way.”
From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan
The more restrictive the ADR conversion mechanics, the wider the premium will be.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026
When the problem occurred, the Mercedes mechanics sent Antonelli out again after his first pit stop without fully solving the problem.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
They have now focused their efforts on the basic mechanics of running an insurance marketplace, including with a challenge to the Failure to File and Reconcile policy—or FTR—in City of Columbus v.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
That question naturally leads to another: Could quantum mechanics be formulated using only real numbers?
From Science Daily ● Jul. 13, 2026
Lilya’s and Katya’s female mechanics transferred with them.
From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
