mechanism

noun

mech·​a·​nism ˈme-kə-ˌni-zəm 

1

a

: a piece of machinery (see machinery sense 1)

The camera's shutter mechanism is broken.

b

: a process, technique, or system for achieving a result

the mechanisms of peace

—F. D. Roosevelt

2

: mechanical operation or action : working sense 2

he acknowledges nothing besides matter and motion; so that all must be performed either by mechanism or by accident

—Richard Bentley

3

: a doctrine that holds natural processes (as of life) to be mechanically determined and capable of complete explanation by the laws of physics and chemistry

4

: the fundamental processes involved in or responsible for an action, reaction, or other natural phenomenon

meteorologists believe that this pressure jump is the mechanism responsible for storms and tornadoes

—Think

compare defense mechanism

Examples of mechanism in a Sentence

The camera's shutter mechanism is broken.

Scientists are studying the body's mechanisms for controlling weight.

There is no mechanism in place for enforcing the new law.

a legal mechanism to prevent lobbyists from exerting unfair influence

psychological mechanisms for dealing with a tragic loss

Recent Examples on the Web

The mechanisms for publicly projecting a presidential winner in the media, officially counting the votes and formally electing a president are separate from a candidate conceding the race. —Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 20 Nov. 2024

Unfortunately for him, her preferred coping mechanism of denial has left him out in the cold ever since. —Caroline Framke, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024

The activation mechanism of rat vanilloid receptor 1 by capsaicin involves the pore domain and differs from the activation by either acid or heat Niigata University School of Medicine. —Amiah Taylor, Discover Magazine, 13 Nov. 2024

King Smith recommends lubricating the belt every three months, and this is easy to do thanks to the folding mechanism, which makes getting under the belt simple. —PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1662, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing mechanism

• defense mechanism
• escape mechanism
• survival mechanism

Kids Definition

mechanism

noun

mech·​a·​nism ˈmek-ə-ˌniz-əm 

1

: a piece of machinery

2

a

: the parts by which a machine operates

b

: the process, way, or system for achieving a goal

the mechanism of government

3

: the processes involved in or responsible for a natural occurrence (as evolution or an action or reaction)

Medical Definition

mechanism

noun

mech·​a·​nism ˈmek-ə-ˌniz-əm 

1

: a piece of machinery

2

a

: a bodily process or function

the mechanism of healing

b

: the combination of mental processes by which a result is obtained

psychological mechanisms

3

: the fundamental physical or chemical processes involved in or responsible for an action, reaction, or other natural phenomenon

mechanistic

ˌmek-ə-ˈnis-tik 

adjective