machinist

M3A1C3H4I1N1I1S1T1
/məˈʃiː.nɪst/

noun

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

Similar
machine operatoroperatorstage machinistmechanicshop mechanic
OriginFrench machiniste ← Latin māchina ← Ancient Greek μηχανή →
Less commonScrabble 16
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Meanings

nounmachinist (plural machinists)

plural machinists

  1. A constructor of machines and engines; someone knowledgeable about machines.
  2. A person skilled in the use of machine tools for fashioning metal parts or tools out of metal.
  3. A person who operates machinery.

    Synonyms: machine operator, operator

  4. A person employed to shift scenery in a theater.

    Synonyms: stage machinist

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA person who operates machinery.

Similar
machine operatoroperator

nounA person employed to shift scenery in a theater.

Similar
stage machinist

More synonyms by meaning

nouna craftsman skilled in operating machine tools

Similar
mechanicshop mechanic
Broader
artisanartificer
Also see
machinermechanic

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekμηχανή“machine”
  2. Latinmāchina
  3. Frenchmachiniste
  4. Englishmachinist

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

More words from French, Latin, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek μηχανοποιός
  • μηχανοποιός (mēkhanopoiós)constructor of machines and engines
Bulgarian машиностроител, механик
  • машиностроител (mašinostroitel)constructor of machines and engines
  • механик (mehanik)one skilled in the use of machine tools
  • машинист (mašinist)one skilled in the use of machine tools
Chinese Mandarin 機械師 /机械师, 機械師 /机械师
  • 機械師 /机械师 (jīxièshī)constructor of machines and engines
  • 機械師 /机械师 (jīxièshī)one skilled in the use of machine tools
Czech mechanik, strojník
  • mechanikconstructor of machines and engines
  • strojníkone skilled in the use of machine tools
Dutch werktuigbouwkundige, bankwerker
  • werktuigbouwkundigeconstructor of machines and engines
  • bankwerkerone skilled in the use of machine tools
  • machinistperson employed to shift scenery in a theater
Finnish koneenrakentaja, koneensuunnittelija
  • koneenrakentajaconstructor of machines and engines
  • koneensuunnittelijaconstructor of machines and engines
  • koneistajaone skilled in the use of machine tools
  • näyttämömiesperson employed to shift scenery in a theater
French machiniste
  • machinisteperson employed to shift scenery in a theater
German Schlosser
  • Schlosserone skilled in the use of machine tools
Greek μηχανουργός, μηχανικός
  • μηχανουργός (michanourgós)constructor of machines and engines
  • μηχανικός (michanikós)constructor of machines and engines
  • μηχανολόγος (michanológos)constructor of machines and engines
  • μηχανικός (michanikós)one skilled in the use of machine tools
  • μηχανικός σκηνής (michanikós skinís)person employed to shift scenery in a theater
Hungarian gépész
  • gépészone skilled in the use of machine tools
Latin māchinātor
  • māchinātorconstructor of machines and engines
Portuguese maquinista
  • maquinistaconstructor of machines and engines
Romanian mecanic, mecanică
  • mecanicconstructor of machines and engines
  • mecanicăconstructor of machines and engines
  • mașinistconstructor of machines and engines
  • mașinistăconstructor of machines and engines
  • mecanicone skilled in the use of machine tools
  • mecanicăone skilled in the use of machine tools
  • mașinistperson employed to shift scenery in a theater
  • mașinistăperson employed to shift scenery in a theater
Russian меха́ник, машини́ст
  • меха́ник (mexánik)constructor of machines and engines
  • машини́ст (mašiníst)one skilled in the use of machine tools
  • машини́ст (mašiníst)person employed to shift scenery in a theater
Spanish maquinista, tramoyista
  • maquinistaconstructor of machines and engines
  • tramoyistaperson employed to shift scenery in a theater
Swedish maskiningenjör, mekanikus
  • maskiningenjörconstructor of machines and engines
  • mekanikusconstructor of machines and engines
  • konstruktörconstructor of machines and engines
  • ingenjörconstructor of machines and engines
Cite this entry
APA

machinist. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/machinist

MLA

“machinist.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/machinist. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “machinist,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/machinist.

Source: machinist on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.