engineering

noun

en·​gi·​neer·​ing ˌen-jə-ˈnir-iŋ 

1

: the activities or function of an engineer

2

a

: the application of science and mathematics by which the properties of matter and the sources of energy in nature are made useful to people

b

: the design and manufacture of complex products

software engineering

3

: calculated manipulation or direction (as of behavior)

social engineering

compare genetic engineering

Examples of engineering in a Sentence

This control panel is a good example of smart engineering.

Recent Examples on the Web

Both obtained master’s degrees: his in engineering, hers in education. —Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2025

The environmental and engineering review process for the high-speed rail route is expected to continue into 2025, with cooperation from federal and state agencies. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025

Among the first steps in the research duo's reverse engineering process was purchasing nine receivers—known as FREs in Radio Ripple Control parlance—from different manufacturers of the devices. —Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 23 Jan. 2025

Siemens chief executive cited the firm’s roughly $10 billion acquisition of U.S. engineering software firm Altair, saying the company has recently been expanding its U.S. footprint. —Sam Meredith, CNBC, 23 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1697, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing engineering

• biomedical engineering
• chemical engineering
• electrical engineering
• genetic engineering
• geotechnical engineering
• human engineering
• industrial engineering
• knowledge engineering
• mechanical engineering
• social engineering
• traffic engineering

Kids Definition

engineering

noun

en·​gi·​neer·​ing ˌen-jə-ˈni(ə)r-iŋ 

: the science or profession of developing and using nature's power and resources in ways that are useful to people (as in designing and building roads, bridges, dams, or machines and in creating new products)