assembly-line

1 of 2

adjective

as·​sem·​bly-line ə-ˈsem-blē-ˌlīn 

: made by or as if by an assembly line

especially : lacking originality or creativity

bored by the novel's assembly-line plot

assembly line

2 of 2

noun

1

: an arrangement of machines, equipment, and workers in which work passes from operation to operation in direct line until the product is assembled

2

: a process for turning out a finished product in a mechanically efficient manner

academic assembly lines

Examples of assembly-line in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The discovery of electrons, aka electricity, was the major driving force of the second industrial revolution, leading to more efficient mass-production techniques in the form of assembly-line production and the rise of the steel, automobile, and telecommunications industries. —Sarwant Singh, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024

The current model for modular construction – using assembly-line technologies to build homes – has its origin in the period after World War II. —Jacob Posner, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Dec. 2024

Noun

For the leaders of today’s cultural industries, films, TV series, albums, even books seem to be no more than widgets on an algorithmic assembly line, as fungible as yards of textile or gauges of steel. —Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2025

However, there are unlikely to be assembly lines in the conventional sense. —David Hambling, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1925, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1914, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

assembly line

noun

: an arrangement of machines, equipment, and workers in which work passes from operation to operation in direct line until the product is assembled