Phrase guide

reverse engineering

noun · verb · 3 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

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The process of analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The process of analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one.

Such analysis of an executable or other system in order to recreate its workings.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

present participle and gerund of reverse engineer

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, gerund, participle, present

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

49 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Afrikaans: afkykontwerp — analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one
  • Arabic: هَنْدَسَة عَكْسِيَّة (handasa ʕaksiyya) — analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one
  • Chinese Mandarin: 逆向工程 (nìxiàng gōngchéng) — analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one
  • Chinese Mandarin: 反向工程 (fǎnxiàng gōngchéng) — analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one
  • Dutch: reverse engineeren — analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one
  • Finnish: takaisinmallinnus — analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one
  • French: rétro-ingénierie — analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one
  • Georgian: რევერსიული ინჟინერია (reversiuli inžineria) — analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one
  • German: Reverse Engineering — analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one
  • German: Reverse-Engineering — analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one
  • German: Nachkonstruktion — analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one
  • German: Nachbauen — analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one
  • German: Nachbau — analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one
  • Greek: ανάστροφη μηχανίκευση (anástrofi michaníkefsi) — analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one
  • Hebrew: הנדסה הפוכה — analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one
  • Indonesian: rekayasa balik — analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one
  • Indonesian: rekayasa mundur — analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one
  • Irish: ais-innealtóireacht — analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one
  • Italian: ingegneria inversa — analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one
  • Italian: deingegnerizzazione — analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one
  • Japanese: リバースエンジニアリング (ribāsuenjiniaringu) — analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one
  • Kannada: ತಂತ್ರಜ್ಞಾನದ ಮೂಲತತ್ವದ ಆವಿಷ್ಕಾ (tantrajñānada mūlatatvada āviṣkā) — analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one
  • Kazakh: кері инжиниринг (kerı injiniriñ) — analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one
  • Korean: 리버스 엔지니어링 (ribeoseu enjinieoring) — analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one
  • Malayalam: റിവേഴ്സ് എഞ്ചിനീയറിംഗ് (ṟivēḻs eñcinīyaṟiṅg) — analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one
  • Persian: مهندسی معکوس — analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one
  • Polish: inżynieria wsteczna — analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one
  • Portuguese: engenharia reversa — analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one
  • Romanian: inginerie inversă — analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one
  • Russian: обра́тная разрабо́тка (obrátnaja razrabótka) — analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one
  • Russian: обра́тный инжини́ринг (obrátnyj inžiníring) — analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one
  • Russian: реверс-инжини́ринг (revers-inžiníring) — analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one
  • Spanish: ingeniería inversa — analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one
  • Spanish: retroingeniería — analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one
  • Spanish: ingeniería reversa — analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one
  • Tamil: பின்னோக்குப் பொறியியல் (piṉṉōkkup poṟiyiyal) — analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one
  • Thai: วิศวกรรมผันกลับ (wít-sà-gam-má-păn-glàp) — analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one
  • Vietnamese: kỹ nghệ đảo ngược — analyzing the construction and operation of a product in order to manufacture a similar one
  • Chinese Mandarin: 逆向工程 (nìxiàng gōngchéng) — analysis of computer system
  • Chinese Mandarin: 反向工程 (fǎnxiàng gōngchéng) — analysis of computer system
  • Finnish: takaisinmallinnus — analysis of computer system
  • Finnish: reversaus — analysis of computer system
  • German: Nachkonstruktion — analysis of computer system
  • German: Nachbau — analysis of computer system
  • Polish: inżynieria wsteczna — analysis of computer system
  • Portuguese: engenharia reversa — analysis of computer system
  • Spanish: ingeniería inversa — analysis of computer system
  • Spanish: retroingeniería — analysis of computer system
  • Spanish: ingeniería reversa — analysis of computer system