apparatus

noun

ap·​pa·​ra·​tus ˌa-pə-ˈra-təs  -ˈrā- 

plural apparatuses or apparatus

1

a

: a set of materials or equipment designed for a particular use

b

: a group of anatomical or cytological parts functioning together

mitotic apparatus

c

: an instrument or appliance designed for a specific operation

an apparatus for measuring vision

2

: the functional processes by means of which a systematized activity is carried out

the apparatus of society

: such as

a

: the machinery of government

b

: the organization of a political party or an underground movement

Synonyms

• accoutrements
• accouterments
• equipment
• gear
• hardware
• kit [chiefly British]
• material(s)
• matériel
• materiel
• outfit
• paraphernalia
• stuff
• tackle

Examples of apparatus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Due to the agency's position as the regional security officer (RSO) in embassies around the world, DSS personnel acquire relationships with host nations' law enforcement, military and intelligence apparatuses. —Donald J. Mihalek, ABC News, 19 Feb. 2025

That movie was less a continuation of the series and more a takedown from within of Disney’s unwieldy superhero apparatus. —Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2025

The senior American diplomat slipped quietly into Belarus, a police state run by a strongman reviled for decades in the West, traveling by car across the border for meetings with President Aleksandr G. Lukashenko and the head of his KGB security apparatus. —Tomas Dapkus, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2025

Previous reports from the United Nations had warned that those actions were systematically implemented by Maduro’s repression apparatus. —Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin apparātus "act of preparing, display, trappings, equipment," from apparāre "to make ready, make preparations for" (from ad- ad- + parāre "to supply, provide, make ready") + -tus, suffix of verbal nouns — more at pare

First Known Use

circa 1628, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing apparatus

• Golgi apparatus

Rhymes for apparatus

• superlattice
• beatus
• flatus
• gratis
• lattice
• rattus
• satis
• status
• stratus

Kids Definition

apparatus

noun

ap·​pa·​ra·​tus ˌap-ə-ˈrat-əs  -ˈrāt- 

plural apparatuses or apparatus

1

: the equipment or material for a particular use or job

laboratory apparatus

2

: a complicated instrument or device

Medical Definition

apparatus

noun

ap·​pa·​ra·​tus ˌap-ə-ˈrat-əs  -ˈrāt- 

plural apparatuses or apparatus

: a group of anatomical and cytological parts having a common function

the respiratory apparatus

see golgi apparatus