Meaning & use
engineering
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Meanings
noununcountable
the work of designing and building machines, structures, roads, or systems using scientific knowledge
Grammar: Uncountable: no plural and no 'an' before it. Say 'a branch of engineering', not 'an engineering'.
Patterns
- study engineering
- work in engineering
- a career in engineering
She decided to study engineering because she loved solving practical problems.
The bridge is a fine example of modern engineering.
He works in engineering, designing parts for electric cars.
noununcountable
the use of scientific methods to design and build something, or the activity of doing this
Grammar: Still uncountable and often used before another noun: engineering project, engineering firm.
Patterns
- engineering project
- engineering firm
- the engineering of something
The engineering of the new stadium took three years.
She joined an engineering firm after graduation.
Careful engineering made the car both light and safe.
noununcountablefigurative
the deliberate arrangement or manipulation of something to achieve a particular result
Grammar: Often used in phrases like social engineering or genetic engineering.
Patterns
- social engineering
- genetic engineering
- financial engineering
The company was accused of financial engineering to hide its losses.
Genetic engineering allows scientists to change the DNA of crops.
Social engineering can influence how people behave online.
Common combinations
- engineering degree
- He has an engineering degree from a top university.
- civil engineering
- Civil engineering deals with roads, bridges, and buildings.
- mechanical engineering
- Mechanical engineering involves designing and making machines.
- engineering firm
- The engineering firm won the contract to build the tunnel.
- reverse engineering
- They used reverse engineering to understand how the device worked.
Synonyms and how they differ
- technology
- Technology is the tools and machines themselves, while engineering is the work of designing and building them.
- construction
- Construction is the process of building, often physical; engineering is the planning and design behind it.
Word family
Commonly confused: engineering or engineer?
engineering vs engineer
Engineer is the person; engineering is the field or activity. Don't say 'He is an engineering' — say 'He is an engineer.'
Practice
Which sentence uses 'engineering' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Engineering' is an uncountable noun, so it has no plural and no 'an'. You study engineering, not 'an engineering' or 'engineerings'. To talk about a person, use 'engineer'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “engineering”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.