noun · academic

ergonomics

UK/ˌɜːɡəˈnɒmɪks/US/ˌɝːɡəˈnɑːmɪks/er·go·NOM·ics

Band 7+speakingtask2task1

the study of designing equipment and environments to fit the people who use them, improving comfort and safety

Examples

Good ergonomics in a gym can reduce the risk of overuse injuries.

Office ergonomics focuses on chair height, screen position and keyboard layout.

Manufacturers are investing in ergonomics to make equipment safer for athletes.

Band 8 sentence

Improving ergonomics in training facilities has measurable benefits in injury prevention and athlete longevity.

Collocations

  • ergonomic design
  • ergonomic chair
  • apply ergonomics

Word family

ergonomic adjectiveergonomist noun

Common mistakes

use 'ergonomic' as a noun: The ergonomics of this chair is goodThe ergonomics of this chair are good / This chair is ergonomic

translate too literally: this equipment is 'comfortable' instead of 'ergonomic'This equipment is ergonomic

Say it for a higher band

5comfort6design7+ergonomics

Synonyms

human factors

Easily confused

human factors

Engineers study human factors to reduce errors in complex systems.

Related words

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In Sport & Exercise

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