mechanistic.

1. Explaining an outcome through the component processes that bring it about.

2. Treating a complex process as a predictable machine-like system, often minimizing agency or context.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• mechanistic explanation
• mechanistic model

On the page

The mechanistic model explained how the material changed under repeated stress.

An observed association alone did not supply a mechanistic explanation.

Usage notes

Primary category: science / research / methodology. Forms: Relational or technical adjective; ordinary comparative and superlative generally not applicable. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Writing functions: methodology, measurement, causation, evaluation. Disciplines: research, statistics, scientific reasoning. Commonness: moderately common.