mechanism
noun
mech·a·nism
| \ ˈme-kə-ˌni-zəm
\
\
Definition of mechanism
1a
: 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
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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
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Recent Examples on the Web
Those mechanisms are not fully developed in a child's body and children can get heatstroke in a matter of minutes inside a hot car, according to MedStar. — Dallas News, "Denton boy found in neighbor's vehicle died of hyperthermia, officials say," 20 Aug. 2019 When the threat is real and lurking in the bushes down the path, this mechanism serves you well. — Dr. Travis Bradberry, Quartz at Work, "Nine skills you should learn that pay off forever," 13 Aug. 2019 That transition period would have a decree that would allow all music users to license both catalogs and immediately play songs upon request of a license, provided that a mechanism is established that would issue the payment of interim fees. — Ed Christman, Billboard, "'An Edifice Whose Foundation Has Eroded': Inside ASCAP and BMI's DOJ Comments on WW2-Era Consent Decrees," 12 Aug. 2019 The New Yorker’s Jia Tolentino, cool girl regent, wrote an essay about how skin care had become a postelection coping mechanism. — Lauren Larson, Allure, "I Want an Elaborate Skin-Care Routine, But My Face Just Can't Take It," 4 Aug. 2019 Additionally, FIFPro asks that no more games be added to competition calendars at club and international level before safeguarding mechanisms are in place. — SI.com, "Liverpool Could Play 67 Games in 2019/20 as FIFPro Report Condemns Dangerous Player Workloads," 2 Aug. 2019 The third reason is that academic freedom serves as an error-correction mechanism. — The Economist, "“Academic mobbing” undermines open inquiry and destroys the soul of universities," 23 July 2019 Also, an e-verification mechanism will be put in place so that funds raised by startups are not brought under the scanner. — Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz India, "Good news for young startups as India eases scrutiny on angel investment," 5 July 2019 To this day, my beauty ritual remains an effective coping mechanism. — Gina Way, Marie Claire, "Can Skincare Keep You Sane?," 4 Dec. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mechanism.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for mechanism
mechanism
noun
English Language Learners Definition of mechanism
: a piece of machinery : a mechanical part or group of parts having a particular function
: a process or system that is used to produce a particular result
: a way of acting, thinking, or behaving that helps or protects a person in a specified way
See the full definition for mechanism in the English Language Learners Dictionary
mechanism
noun
mech·a·nism
| \ ˈme-kə-ˌni-zəm
\
\
Kids Definition of mechanism
1
: a piece of machinery
2
: the parts by which a machine operates
the mechanism of a watch
3
: the parts or steps that make up a process or activity
the mechanism of government
mechanism
noun
mech·a·nism
| \ ˈmek-ə-ˌniz-əm
\
\
Medical Definition of mechanism
1
: a piece of machinery
2a
: 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
Other Words from mechanism
mechanistic
\ ˌmek-ə-ˈnis-tik
\
adjective
\
adjective
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