WordValeergonomics
designing for comfort and efficiency of human use
In more detail
1. (noun) the study of how to design furniture, equipment, and work areas to be comfortable and safe for people to use
2. (noun) the degree to which something is comfortable and safe to use
Examples
- 1. She studied ergonomics in college and now designs office chairs.
- 2. The ergonomics of this keyboard are excellent; my wrists don't hurt anymore.
How to use ergonomics
Ergonomics refers both to the discipline of designing safe and comfortable products and workspaces, and to the quality of comfort and safety in a given product or environment. It is primarily used in professional, technical, and workplace contexts. The adjective ergonomic is far more common in everyday speech than the noun itself.
Common phrases
- ergonomic design
- ergonomic assessment
- ergonomic standards
- improve ergonomics
- poor ergonomics
- workplace ergonomics
Synonyms
human factors · human-computer interaction · occupational safety · usability · comfort design
Word family
ergonomic (adjective) · ergonomically (adverb) · ergonomist (noun)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes use ergonomics as a countable noun (saying 'an ergonomic' or 'multiple ergonomics') when it should be treated as uncountable, or they confuse it with general comfort without the safety component.
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