mechanistic

C2+ Topic:Tools, Machines & Construction

US /ˌmɛkəˈnɪstɪk/ UK /ˌmɛkəˈnɪstɪk/ See IPA manual

adj

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... deterministic materialistphysicalistreductive

Opposites

vitalisticteleological organic

Word family

Derived forms mechanistically

Related forms mechanism mechanic mechanical mechanize

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.

mēkhanḗ Ancient Greek

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Tools, Machines & Construction Word Formation & Derivatives

# 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

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