mechanistic

[ mek-uh-nis-tik ]

adjective

1. of or relating to the theory of mechanism or to mechanists.
2. of or relating to mechanics.
3. mechanical.

mechanistic

/ ˌmɛkəˈnɪstɪk /

adjective

1. philosophy of or relating to the theory of mechanism
2. maths of or relating to mechanics

Derived Forms

• ˌmechaˈnistically, adverb

Other Words From

• mecha·nisti·cal·ly adverb
• anti·mecha·nistic adjective
• anti·mecha·nisti·cal·ly adverb
• nonmech·a·nistic adjective
• semi·mecha·nistic adjective
• unmech·a·nistic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mechanistic¹

First recorded in 1880–85; mechanist + -ic

Example Sentences

This assumption has its origin in the scientific revolution of the 17th century, and is part of what we call the mechanistic worldview.

From Singularity Hub 

For all his enthusiasm about driving, however, Banham takes pains to refute the “common mechanistic misconception that everything in Los Angeles is caused by the automobile as a way of life.”

From MIT Technology Review

The range of experiments, from acoustic analysis to fMRI, also provides “a nice next stepping stone to develop a more methodical and mechanistic understanding of how we process screams,” he says.

From Science News

Because these mRNA vaccines work by providing instructions to your body to make spike protein, this local response to the vaccine makes mechanistic sense.

From Washington Post

A common method is eroding the plausibility of the concept by appealing to the mechanistic nature of reality.

From Nautilus

This monistic soul-hypothesis, then, is at bottom mechanistic.

From Project Gutenberg

They are mechanistic as indicating the mechanism, the means, of accomplishing the possibilities which they indicate.

From Project Gutenberg

Kate had been rash enough to endeavor to explain something of the Fulhams' theories regarding the mechanistic conception of life.

From Project Gutenberg

According to the old mechanistic theory, the world could be reduced to two elements, matter and motion.

From Project Gutenberg

In fact, the reversed film of the cinematograph may be regarded as the reductio ad absurdum of the mechanistic hypothesis.

From Project Gutenberg