How do you use the word "mechanical" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "mechanical": Mechanical power took the place of manual labor. The downtime is caused by a mechanical problem.

Mechanical Meaning

/məˈkænɪkəl/

Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

adjCharacteristic of someone who does manual labour for a living; coarse, vulgar.

adjRelated to mechanics (the branch of physics that deals with forces acting on matter).

Sentence Examples

Mechanical power took the place of manual labor.

The downtime is caused by a mechanical problem.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms:

automatic mechanic robotic

Antonyms:

None

CEFR Practice Quiz

The ____ device used gears and levers to perform its function.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

The robot's ____ arms moved with incredible precision as it assembled the delicate circuit boards.

Word Origin & History

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *megʰ-der.? Ancient Greek μηχανή (mēkhanḗ) Proto-Indo-European *-kos Ancient Greek -κός (-kós) Ancient Greek -ικός (-ikós) Ancient Greek μηχανικός (mēkhanikós)bor. Latin mēchanicusder. Old French mecaniquebor. Middle English mechanic Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-der.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālisbor. Old French -albor. ▲ Latin -ālis Old French -elbor. ▲ Latin -ālisbor. Middle English -al Middle English mechanical English mechanical From Middle English mechanical, mechanicalle, mechanycalle, equivalent to mechanic + -al.

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"Thy Doll, and Helen of thy noble thoughts, Is in base durance and contagious prison, Haled thither by most mechanical and dirty hand." — c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]. Epilogue.”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene v]:

"all manner of silks were already become so vile and abject, that was any man seene to weare them, he was presently judged to be some countrie fellow, or mechanicall man." — 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 43, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book I, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:

"Edward Churchill still attended to his work in a hopeless mechanical manner like a sleep-walker who walks safely on a well-known round. But his Roman collar galled him, his cossack stifled him, his biretta was as uncomfortable as a merry-andrew's cap and bells." — 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XV, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:

"Having the mechanical imperative of scenery improving your park rating helps motivate me, admittedly, but I still appreciate the power and potential in the toolset." — 2025 February 26, Rick Lane, “Review: Planet Coaster 2”, in PC Gamer (US), number 392, pages 68-69; published online 1 November 2024:

"Since we are dealing with copy in paste-up form, we are now concerned with the preparation and assembly of elements suitable for camera-ready copy, positioned on the mechanical according to the rough layout supplied." — 1980, Henry C. Latimer, Production planning and repro mechanicals for offset printing, page 92:

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