pneumatic

1 of 2

adjective

pneu·​mat·​ic nu̇-ˈma-tik How to pronounce pneumatic (audio)
nyu̇-
Synonyms of pneumatic
1
: of, relating to, or using gas (such as air or wind):
a
: moved or worked by air pressure
b(1)
: adapted for holding or inflated with compressed air
(2)
: having air-filled cavities
2
: of or relating to the pneuma : spiritual
3
: having a well-proportioned feminine figure
especially : having a full bust
pneumatically
nu̇-ˈma-ti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce pneumatic (audio)
nyu̇-
adverb
pneumaticity
ˌnü-mə-ˈti-sə-tē How to pronounce pneumatic (audio)
ˌnyü-
noun

pneumaticity

2 of 2

noun

pneu·​ma·​tic·​i·​ty ˌn(y)üməˈtisətē How to pronounce pneumaticity (audio)
plural -es
: the quality or state of being pneumatic
specifically : a condition marked by the presence of air cavities

Synonyms of pneumatic

Relevance

Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of pneumatic in a Sentence

Adjective a movie star who is remembered mainly as a pneumatic sex symbol of the 1950s
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Soft grip technology The soft pneumatic hand exoskeleton is designed to restore grasping ability for people with paralyzed hands. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 7 July 2026 After dropping out of high school in 1922, Ed Link followed his father into the family business, learning how bellows and pneumatic pressure—the guts of organs—could be made to simulate movement. — Bill Gourgey, Popular Science, 2 July 2026 Manufacturers can also tweak turbochargers, wastegates, sensors, spark plugs, fuel injectors, pneumatic valves and engine cooling systems. — Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 26 June 2026 Developed in partnership with the University of Bremen, the wheels were originally heavier and narrower than comparable conventional pneumatic wheels. — New Atlas, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for pneumatic

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin pneumaticus, from Greek pneumatikos, from pneumat-, pneuma air, breath, spirit, from pnein to breathe — more at sneeze

First Known Use

Adjective

1624, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of pneumatic was in 1624

Phrases Containing pneumatic

Rhymes for pneumatic

See All Rhymes for pneumatic

Browse Nearby Words

pneumat-
pneumatic
pneumatic action
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pneumatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pneumatic. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

pneumatic

adjective
pneu·​mat·​ic n(y)u̇-ˈmat-ik How to pronounce pneumatic (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or using air, wind, or other gas
2
: moved or worked by air pressure
a pneumatic drill
3
: made to hold or be inflated with compressed air
pneumatic tires
pneumatically
-i-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce pneumatic (audio)
adverb
Etymology

Adjective

from Latin pneumaticus "relating to or using air," from Greek pneumatikos (same meaning), from pneumat-, pneuma "air, breath"

Medical Definition

pneumatic

adjective
pneu·​mat·​ic n(y)u̇-ˈmat-ik How to pronounce pneumatic (audio)
: of, relating to, or using gas (as air): as
a
: moved or worked by air pressure
b
: adapted for holding or inflated with compressed air
c
: having air-filled cavities
pneumatic bone
pneumatically
-i-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce pneumatic (audio)
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on pneumatic

Nglish: Translation of pneumatic for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pneumatic

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
banana-mirrored
Contradictory Words Quiz Pick out which word means one thing…and the opp...
See All