mechanistic C2+ Topic:Tools, Machines & Construction US /ˌmɛkəˈnɪstɪk/ UK /ˌmɛkəˈnɪstɪk/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 adj explaining phenomena by physical causes alone, like a machine The biologist rejected a purely mechanistic view of the mind. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 adj · explaining phenomena by... deterministicmaterialistphysicalistreductive ↔ Opposites vitalisticteleologicalorganic Word family Derived forms mechanistically Related forms mechanismmechanicmechanicalmechanize Etymology AI details From mechanist (from Greek mēkhanḗ 'machine') plus -ic. Describes the view that natural phenomena are explicable by physical causes alone, as a machine operates. mēkhanḗ Ancient Greek View etymology graph -> Topics Tools, Machines & Construction Word Formation & Derivatives External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # mechanistic **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** adj **IPA (US):** /ˌmɛkəˈnɪstɪk/ **IPA (UK):** /ˌmɛkəˈnɪstɪk/ ## Meanings 1. explaining phenomena by physical causes alone, like a machine ## Examples - The biologist rejected a purely mechanistic view of the mind. ## Synonyms - deterministic - materialist - physicalist - reductive ## Antonyms - vitalistic - teleological - organic ## Derived Forms - mechanistically ## Related Forms - mechanism - mechanic - mechanical - mechanize ## Roots and Affixes - Root: mēkhanḗ ## Etymology From mechanist (from Greek mēkhanḗ 'machine') plus -ic. Describes the view that natural phenomena are explicable by physical causes alone, as a machine operates. ## AI Etymology Mechanistic comes from mechanist (from Greek mēkhanḗ 'machine') plus -ic. Describes the view that natural phenomena are explicable by physical causes alone, as a machine operates. The etymological trail includes Ancient Greek mēkhanḗ. The same word family includes mechanistically, mechanism, mechanic, mechanical, mechanize. Its current adjective use means "explaining phenomena by physical causes alone, like a machine". ## Topics - Tools, Machines & Construction - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown