mechanistic

[ mek-uh-nis-tik ]

/ ˌmɛk əˈnɪs tɪk /

adjective

of or relating to the theory of mechanism or to mechanists.

of or relating to mechanics.

Nearby words

mechanics, mechanicsville, mechanise, mechanism, mechanist, mechanistic, mechanization, mechanize, mechanized, mechano-, mechanochemistry

Origin of mechanistic

First recorded in 1880–85; mechanist + -ic

Related forms

mech·a·nis·ti·cal·ly, adverban·ti·mech·a·nis·tic, adjectivean·ti·mech·a·nis·ti·cal·ly, adverbnon·mech·a·nis·tic, adjective

sem·i·mech·a·nis·tic, adjectiveun·mech·a·nis·tic, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for mechanistic

They had only the mechanistic world of their ships—which were vehicles, not a land.
And Then the Town Took Off|Richard Wilson
The facts in their isolation, taken as complete in themselves, are not mechanistic.
Essays in Experimental Logic|John Dewey
Aristotle expressly states that a sufficient development of mechanistic technology would abrogate slavery.
The Transformation of Early Christianity from an Eschatological to a Socialized Movement|Lyford Paterson Edwards
Perhaps it is not clear what I mean by "the mechanistic outlook."
The Problem of China|Bertrand Russell

Another Harvard voice is less pronounced in favor of the mechanistic conception of life.
The Breath of Life|John Burroughs

British Dictionary definitions for mechanistic

mechanistic

/ (ˌmɛkəˈnɪstɪk) /

adjective

philosophy of or relating to the theory of mechanism

maths of or relating to mechanics

Derived Formsmechanistically, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for mechanistic

mechanistic

[ mĕk′ə-nĭs′tĭk ]

adj.

Mechanically determined.

Of or relating to the philosophy of mechanism, especially one that tends to explain phenomena only by reference to physical or biological causes.