A2noun2K

Engineer

UK /["/ˌendʒɪˈnɪə(r)/"]/US /["/ˌendʒɪˈnɪr/"]/

Definition

a person whose job involves designing and building engines, machines, roads, bridges, etc.

In simple words: A person who designs or builds things, especially machines or structures.

Examples

  • We worked with a team of scientists and engineers.
  • You need the advice of a qualified engineer.
  • engineers who designed and built advanced military aircraft
  • They're sending an engineer to fix the problem with the heating.
  • We were on the phone with a technical support engineer.
  • a flight engineer
  • the chief engineer on a cruise liner

Usage notes

Commonly used in both professional and educational contexts. It’s appropriate in formal discussions about projects or in casual talks about someone's job, but may not be as relatable in non-technical conversations.

Grammar pattern

engineer + object

Memory hint

Imagine an 'engine' and a 'deer' — an engineer helps fix engines.

Collocations

  • chief
  • chartered
  • qualified
  • build something
  • design something
  • develop something
  • qualified
  • skilled
  • trained
  • call in
  • call out

Synonyms

  • developer
  • designer
  • inventor
  • architect

Antonyms

  • destroyer
  • dismantler

Common mistakes

  • Confusing 'engineer' with 'engineering' as a field or profession.
  • Using 'engineer' as a verb incorrectly; it’s primarily a noun.
  • Mispronouncing it as 'ing-ineer' instead of 'en-gineer'.