Repair vs. Mend — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 15, 2024
Repair often involves fixing mechanical or technical issues to restore functionality, while mend typically refers to repairing fabric or relationships.
Difference Between Repair and Mend
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Key Differences
Repair is commonly used in contexts involving machinery, electronics, or structures, where the focus is on restoring something to its original condition. Whereas, mend is more often associated with textiles, such as clothing or fabric, and involves sewing or patching to restore the item's usability.
In a broader sense, repair can apply to abstract concepts like repairing a situation, suggesting fixing or resolving a complex issue. On the other hand, mend can also be used metaphorically in terms of relationships or feelings, indicating a process of healing or reconciliation.
The methods involved in repair can vary significantly, often requiring specialized tools or knowledge, particularly in fields like automotive or electronics repair. Conversely, mending is typically seen as a simpler, often home-based activity that requires basic sewing skills and tools like needles and thread.
The duration and complexity of repairs can vary, potentially involving multiple steps or replacements of parts. Meanwhile, mending is usually a quicker fix, focusing on small areas with direct stitching or patching.
Comparison Chart
Context
Machinery, electronics, structures
Textiles, clothing, fabric
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Tools Required
Specialized tools (e.g., wrench, solder)
Basic tools (e.g., needle, thread)
Skill Level
Often requires technical expertise
Generally requires basic sewing skills
Common Uses
Fixing cars, computers, appliances
Repairing holes, tears in clothing
Metaphorical Usage
Repairing situations, relationships
Mending relationships, emotional wounds
Compare with Definitions
Repair
To fix or restore a broken machine or structure.
I need to repair the leaking faucet.
Mend
To fix fabric by sewing.
I will mend the tear in my jacket.
Repair
To heal or restore health.
The patient is repairing well after the surgery.
Mend
To restore functionality to a small object.
Can you mend this broken necklace?
Repair
To restore data or software to functioning.
The IT technician repaired the corrupted files.
Mend
To improve a deteriorating situation.
They are mending their relationship after the argument.
Repair
To make up for or rectify.
He apologized to repair his friendship.
Mend
To heal or recover health.
She is mending well after her illness.
Repair
To remedy or fix a situation.
They are working to repair the damage caused by the misunderstanding.
Mend
To patch up or repair informally.
I need to mend the hole in my socks.
Repair
To restore to sound condition after damage or injury; fix
Repaired the broken watch.
Mend
To make repairs or restoration to; fix.
Repair
To set right; remedy
Repair an oversight.
Mend
To reform or correct
Mend one's ways.
Repair
To restore or renew
Repair the immune system.
Mend
To improve in health or condition
The patient is mending well.
Repair
To make up for or compensate for (a loss or wrong, for example).
Mend
To heal
The bone mended in a month.
Repair
To make repairs.
Mend
To make repairs or corrections.
Repair
To betake oneself; go
Repair to the dining room.
Mend
The act of mending
Did a neat mend on the sock.
Repair
To go frequently or habitually
Repairs to the restaurant every week.
Mend
A mended place
You can't tell where the mend is.
Repair
The work, act, or process of repairing.
Mend
A place, as in clothing, which has been repaired by mending.
Repair
Often repairs An instance or a result of repairing
The accident resulted in a costly repair to the car. My bike is in the shop for repairs.
Mend
The act of repairing or recovering.
My trousers have a big rip in them and need a mend.
Repair
The state of being fit for use
The furnace is out of repair.
Mend
(transitive) To repair (something that is torn, broken, defaced, decayed, or otherwise damaged)
My trousers have a big rip in them and need mending.
When your car breaks down, you can take it to the garage to have it mended.
Repair
General condition after use or repairing
In good repair.
Mend
(transitive) To put in a better state; to set right; to reform;
Her stutter was mended by a speech therapist.
My broken heart was mended.
Repair
An act of going or sojourning
Our annual repair to the mountains.
Mend
To quicken
Repair
A place to which one goes frequently or habitually; a haunt.
Mend
(transitive) To help, to advance, to further; to add to.
Repair
To restore to good working order, fix, or improve damaged condition; to mend; to remedy.
To repair a house, a road, a shoe, a ship
To repair a shattered fortune
Mend
(intransitive) To grow better; to advance to a better state; to become improved.
Repair
To make amends for, as for an injury, by an equivalent; to indemnify for.
To repair a loss or damage
Mend
To repair, as anything that is torn, broken, defaced, decayed, or the like; to restore from partial decay, injury, or defacement; to patch up; to put in shape or order again; to re-create; as, to mend a garment or a machine.
Repair
To transfer oneself to another place.
To repair to sanctuary for safety
Mend
To alter for the better; to set right; to reform; hence, to quicken; as, to mend one's manners or pace.
The best service they could do the state was to mend the lives of the persons who composed it.
Repair
To pair again.
Please try to repair the two earbuds to each other. Place both earbuds back into the charging case, wait for four seconds, then open it and see if they have been repaired with one another.
Mend
To help, to advance, to further; to add to.
Though in some lands the grass is but short, yet it mends garden herbs and fruit.
You mend the jewel by the wearing it.
Repair
The act of repairing something.
I took the car to the workshop for repair.
Mend
To grow better; to advance to a better state; to become improved; to recover; to heal.
Repair
The result of repairing something.
If you look closely you can see the repair in the paintwork.
Mend
Sewing or darning that repairs a worn or torn hole (especially in a garment);
Her stockings had several mends
Repair
The condition of something, in respect of need for repair.
The car was overall in poor repair before the accident. But after the workshop had it for three weeks it was returned in excellent repair. But the other vehicle was beyond repair.
Mend
The act of putting something in working order again
Repair
The act of repairing or resorting to a place.
Our annual repair to the mountains
Mend
Restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken;
She repaired her TV set
Repair my shoes please
Repair
A place to which one goes frequently or habitually; a haunt.
Mend
Heal or recover;
My broken leg is mending
Repair
To return.
I thought . . . that he repaire should again.
Repair
To go; to betake one's self; to resort; ass, to repair to sanctuary for safety.
Go, mount the winds, and to the shades repair.
Repair
To restore to a sound or good state after decay, injury, dilapidation, or partial destruction; to renew; to restore; to mend; as, to repair a house, a road, a shoe, or a ship; to repair a shattered fortune.
Secret refreshings that repair his strength.
Do thou, as thou art wont, repairMy heart with gladness.
Repair
To make amends for, as for an injury, by an equivalent; to indemnify for; as, to repair a loss or damage.
I 'll repair the misery thou dost bear.
Repair
The act of repairing or resorting to a place.
The king sent a proclamation for their repair to their houses.
Repair
Place to which one repairs; a haunt; a resort.
There the fierce winds his tender force assailAnd beat him downward to his first repair.
Repair
Restoration to a sound or good state after decay, waste, injury, or partial restruction; supply of loss; reparation; as, materials are collected for the repair of a church or of a city.
Sunk down and sought repairOf sleep, which instantly fell on me.
Repair
Condition with respect to soundness, perfectness, etc.; as, a house in good, or bad, repair; the book is out of repair.
Repair
The act of putting something in working order again
Repair
A formal way of referring to the condition of something;
The building was in good repair
Repair
A frequently visited place
Repair
Restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken;
She repaired her TV set
Repair my shoes please
Repair
Make amends for; pay compensation for;
One can never fully repair the suffering and losses of the Jews in the Third Reich
She was compensated for the loss of her arm in the accident
Repair
Move, travel, or proceed toward some place;
He repaired to his cabin in the woods
Repair
Set straight or right;
Remedy these deficiencies
Rectify the inequities in salaries
Repair an oversight
Repair
Give new life or energy to;
A hot soup will revive me
This will renovate my spirits
This treatment repaired my health
Common Curiosities
What skills are necessary for repairing electronics?
Skills in electronics, understanding of circuitry, and sometimes soldering are necessary for repairing electronic devices.
Can you mend metal objects?
Typically, mending is not used for metal objects; repairing is the appropriate term for fixing metal.
What does it mean to repair a car?
Repairing a car involves fixing mechanical issues or damaged parts to restore its functionality.
What tools do I need to repair a leaking pipe?
Tools like wrenches, sealants, or replacement pipes might be needed to repair a leaking pipe.
Is mending applicable to relationships?
Yes, mending can be used metaphorically to describe the process of improving or healing a strained relationship.
How long does it take to mend a piece of clothing?
Mending clothing can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the damage.
Can I mend a broken vase?
Mending is typically not suitable for ceramics; the term repair is more appropriate for such materials.
What is the difference between mending and patching?
Mending generally refers to sewing repair, while patching specifically involves covering holes with pieces of fabric.
Do I need professional help to repair an air conditioner?
Yes, professional skills and tools are often required to repair complex systems like air conditioners.
Can emotional wounds be mended?
Yes, emotional wounds can be mended through healing processes like therapy and support.
Is it easier to mend or repair a torn book?
Mending might be simpler for a torn book, involving adhesive and tape to fix torn pages.
When should I use repair over mend?
Use repair when dealing with technical, mechanical, or complex structural issues.
When should I use mend over repair?
Use mend for simple, often DIY fixes, particularly with textiles or minor personal items.
Can repair be used in a medical context?
Yes, repair can be used to describe medical processes aimed at restoring health or anatomy, such as surgical repairs.
What's a common scenario for using repair in IT?
Repairing in IT often involves fixing software issues or hardware malfunctions in computers and networks.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
