mechanics

/məˈkænɪks/

//məˈkænɪks// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"mechanics" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“mechanics” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #5,811 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#5,811
frequency rank, English
9
letters
14
tracked misspellings
4
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The branch of physics that deals with the action of forces on material objects with mass

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

mechanics vs mechanism
78% similar
mechanics vs mechanisms
80% similar
mechanics vs mechanic
89% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for mechanics
PropertyValue
Headwordmechanics
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/məˈkænɪks/
Letters9
Frequency rank#5,811
Misspellings tracked14
Confusable pairs4
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “mechanics” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). mechanics lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for mechanics is 9 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /məˈkænɪks/. Corpus data places it at rank #5,811 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 14 likely wrong-spelling variants for mechanics, with forms such as "emchanics", "mcehanics", and "mecahnics". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 4 confusable-pair relationships, "mechanism", "mechanisms", "mechanic", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Latin mēchanicus, from Ancient Greek μηχανικός (mēkhanikós), from μηχανή (mēkhanḗ, “machine, tool”). The correct English form is mechanics, spelled M-E-C-H-A-N-I-C-S.

Definition

  1. 1
    The branch of physics that deals with the action of forces on material objects with mass
  2. 2
    The design and construction of machines.
  3. 3
    Spelling and punctuation.
  4. 4
    Operation in general; workings.

Etymology

From Latin mēchanicus, from Ancient Greek μηχανικός (mēkhanikós), from μηχανή (mēkhanḗ, “machine, tool”).

This word in other languages

mecánica(Español)mécanique(Français)Mechanik(Deutsch)mecânica(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: emchanics,mcehanics,mecahnics,mecchanics,mechaincs,mechancis,mechaniccs,mechanicss,mechanisc,mechannics,mechhanics,mechnaics,mehcanics,mmechanics

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of mechanics - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

emchanics2mcehanics2mecahnics2mecchanics1mechaincs2mechancis2mechaniccs1mechanicss1
Edit distance from "mechanics"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "mechanics"?
"mechanics" is spelled M-E-C-H-A-N-I-C-S. The IPA pronunciation is /məˈkænɪks/.
What does "mechanics" mean?
As a noun, "mechanics" means: The branch of physics that deals with the action of forces on material objects with mass
What words are commonly confused with "mechanics"?
"mechanics" is commonly confused with "mechanism", "mechanisms", "mechanic". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "mechanics"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "mechanics" is /məˈkænɪks/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "mechanics"?
From Latin mēchanicus, from Ancient Greek μηχανικός (mēkhanikós), from μηχανή (mēkhanḗ, “machine, tool”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “mechanics”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is M-E-C-H-A-N-I-C-S - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /məˈkænɪks/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “mechanism” - see the side-by-side comparison. mechanics vs mechanism
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list