Standard Lemma guide

machinist

noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /məˈʃiː.nɪst/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: M AH0 SH IY1 N AH0 S T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A constructor of machines and engines; someone knowledgeable about machines.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A person skilled in the use of machine tools for fashioning metal parts or tools out of metal.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A person who operates machinery.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: machine operator, operator

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A person employed to shift scenery in a theater.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: stage machinist

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

a craftsman skilled in operating machine tools

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: mechanic, shop mechanic

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: craftsman, artisan, journeyman, artificer

History

Etymology

From French machiniste, from machine (“machine, mechanical device”), from Latin māchina, from Ancient Greek μηχανή (mēkhanḗ, “machine”).

Across languages

Translations

44 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: машиностроител (mašinostroitel) — constructor of machines and engines
  • Chinese Mandarin: 機械師 /机械师 (jīxièshī) — constructor of machines and engines
  • Czech: mechanik — constructor of machines and engines
  • Dutch: werktuigbouwkundige — constructor of machines and engines
  • Finnish: koneenrakentaja — constructor of machines and engines
  • Finnish: koneensuunnittelija — constructor of machines and engines
  • Galician: maquinista — constructor of machines and engines
  • Greek: μηχανουργός (michanourgós) — constructor of machines and engines
  • Greek: μηχανικός (michanikós) — constructor of machines and engines
  • Greek: μηχανολόγος (michanológos) — constructor of machines and engines
  • Ancient Greek: μηχανοποιός (mēkhanopoiós) — constructor of machines and engines
  • Latin: māchinātor — constructor of machines and engines
  • Portuguese: maquinista — constructor of machines and engines
  • Romanian: mecanic — constructor of machines and engines
  • Romanian: mecanică — constructor of machines and engines
  • Romanian: mașinist — constructor of machines and engines
  • Romanian: mașinistă — constructor of machines and engines
  • Russian: меха́ник (mexánik) — constructor of machines and engines
  • Spanish: maquinista — constructor of machines and engines
  • Spanish: mecánico — constructor of machines and engines
  • Swedish: maskiningenjör — constructor of machines and engines
  • Swedish: mekanikus — constructor of machines and engines
  • Swedish: konstruktör — constructor of machines and engines
  • Swedish: ingenjör — constructor of machines and engines
  • Bulgarian: механик (mehanik) — one skilled in the use of machine tools
  • Bulgarian: машинист (mašinist) — one skilled in the use of machine tools
  • Chinese Mandarin: 機械師 /机械师 (jīxièshī) — one skilled in the use of machine tools
  • Czech: strojník — one skilled in the use of machine tools
  • Dutch: bankwerker — one skilled in the use of machine tools
  • Finnish: koneistaja — one skilled in the use of machine tools
  • German: Schlosser — one skilled in the use of machine tools
  • Greek: μηχανικός (michanikós) — one skilled in the use of machine tools
  • Hungarian: gépész — one skilled in the use of machine tools
  • Romanian: mecanic — one skilled in the use of machine tools
  • Romanian: mecanică — one skilled in the use of machine tools
  • Russian: машини́ст (mašiníst) — one skilled in the use of machine tools
  • Dutch: machinist — person employed to shift scenery in a theater
  • Finnish: näyttämömies — person employed to shift scenery in a theater
  • French: machiniste — person employed to shift scenery in a theater
  • Greek: μηχανικός σκηνής (michanikós skinís) — person employed to shift scenery in a theater
  • Romanian: mașinist — person employed to shift scenery in a theater
  • Romanian: mașinistă — person employed to shift scenery in a theater
  • Russian: машини́ст (mašiníst) — person employed to shift scenery in a theater
  • Spanish: tramoyista — person employed to shift scenery in a theater