mechanisch

Mechanisch is an adjective used in German and Dutch to describe things relating to machines, mechanisms, or the action of mechanical systems. In everyday language it denotes devices or processes accomplished by mechanical means rather than electrical, chemical, or biological means. In physics and engineering, mechanics studies how forces cause motion in bodies, and mechanische Systeme refers to arrangements of components such as gears, levers, springs, and linkages that transmit force and produce movement.

The term has its etymology in the Greek mechanikos via Latin mechanica and French mécanique, entering German as Mechanik and mechanisch and Dutch as mechanisch. The root machina (machine) reflects the broader concept of devices that convert energy into motion or work.

Historically, notions of mechanism developed from ancient times and were formalized in early modern science with the work of Newton and others. Today, mechanisch is widely used in engineering and design to describe machinery, structural components, and the parts of systems that operate through rigid-body motion and frictional contact. In general, German- and Dutch-language technical writing distinguishes mechanical (mechanisch) from electrical (elektrisch) or hydraulic subsystems, though modern systems often blend disciplines in areas such as mechatronics and automated machinery.

Related topics include mechanics, machines, and mechanical engineering.