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:
“We have this truck blocking the entry—we’ve got to stay on our tippy-toes,” a mechanic named Denson, who started out at Amazon, told me.
From Slate ● Oct. 26, 2026
In that time, he said he’s seen mechanic rates jump from around $55 an hour when he started to $175 today, while parts costs have doubled.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026
Redd advises having a trusted mechanic inspect your car.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
Inspired by other family members who had served in the armed forces, he applied to join the RAF, hoping to train as either aircrew or a mechanic.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026
Two carpenters volunteered, as did a teacher, a mechanic, a coach builder, and a playing-card maker.
From "An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793" by Jim Murphy
“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
While the mechanics of Anthropic’s approach are unique, the effect isn’t.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 1, 2026
Though the mechanics are still poorly understood, these mountains appear to become unstable when the ice disappears.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 19, 2026
The growth is driven in part by the mechanics of an ever-rising bull market: As stocks climb, short sellers need to post more collateral to their lenders.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
Quantum mechanics, on the other hand, describes a jerky and discontinuous universe.
From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife
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