automaton

[ aw-tom-uh-ton, -tn ]

noun

, plural au·tom·a·tons, au·tom·a·ta [aw-, tom, -, uh, -t, uh].

1. a mechanical figure or contrivance constructed to act as if by its own motive power; robot.
2. a person or animal that acts in a monotonous, routine manner, without active intelligence.
3. something capable of acting automatically or without an external motive force.

automaton

/ ɔːˈtɒməˌtɒn; -tən /

noun

1. a mechanical device operating under its own hidden power; robot
2. a person who acts mechanically or leads a routine monotonous life

Derived Forms

• auˈtomatous, adjective

Other Words From

• au·toma·tous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of automaton¹

1605–15; < Latin: automatic device < Greek, noun use of neuter of autómatos spontaneous, acting without human agency, equivalent to auto- auto- ¹ + -matos, adj. derivative from base of memonénai to intend, ménos might, force

Word History and Origins

Origin of automaton¹

C17: from Latin, from Greek, from automatos spontaneous, self-moving

Example Sentences

But in the 18th and 19th centuries, the automaton — an intricate mechanical device that could take the form of a preening silver swan or an organ-playing doll — was a popular source of entertainment and wonder.

From New York Times

But its protagonist is a machine: an automaton of a tiger attacking a British soldier, built by an Indian artisan in the late 1700s.

From Los Angeles Times

The application was consuming me, organizing my synapses like an automaton farmer who makes Munsen predictions regarding the historical flow of neurotransmission.

From Slate

The storyboarded sequence sees doors fly open and the cabinetry consuming the viewer to reveal a three-headed haunted mask, a creepy game-playing automaton, a spiraling image of human bones, a ghastly mermaid, a mummified hand and an abstracted clock unwinding itself.

From Los Angeles Times

Unfortunately, it turned out once again that a colorless automaton wasn't quite the winning personality everyone was looking for.

From Salon

Related Words

• apparatus
• appliance
• automobile
• engine
• gadget
• instrument
• motor
• tool
• vehicle