mechanic
Americannoun
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mechanics
plural
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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:
The ban is “incredibly stupid,” said Justin Dedonna, a Long Island mechanic who’s on his third kei truck.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 13, 2026
Among those following the auction was Andy Garner, a mechanic from Norwich, who collects, transcribes and self-publishes wartime letters - ensuring the people in them are not lost to history.
From BBC ● Nov. 11, 2026
A mechanic, former union leader, and Navy veteran, Osborn is running as an independent with the backing of the state’s Democratic Party.
From Slate ● Oct. 29, 2026
"The haze has a big impact on us, especially on health and the economy, with our income decreasing," said Marzuki, a 38-year-old mechanic who like many in Indonesia, goes by only one name.
From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2026
Gay really was a good mechanic and the order for gasoline was definite evidence of good faith.
From "Cannery Row" by John Steinbeck
“Rips represent a natural new vertical for online sports betting and iGaming operators, given similar gaming or lottery mechanics and customer demographics,” the analysts said.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 11, 2026
"We are creating a momentum where both sides are learning the… mechanics of how to actually keep the peace when the peace comes," he added.
From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026
This fundamental difficulty puzzled the earliest researchers studying quantum mechanics.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 5, 2026
“It invests the states with responsibility for the mechanics of congressional elections,” unless Congress adopts a different rule.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2026
According to the equations of quantum mechanics, more power than is stored in all the coal mines, oil fields, and nuclear weapons in the world is sitting in the space inside your toaster.
From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife
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