automatic

adjective au·to·mat·ic \ ˌȯ-tə-ˈma-tik \

Updated on: 8 Dec 2017

Definition of automatic

1 a : largely or wholly involuntary; especially : reflex 5

automatic blinking of the eyelids

b : acting or done spontaneously or unconsciously

the automatic applause of the audience

c : done or produced as if by machine : mechanical

the answers were automatic

2 : having a self-acting or self-regulating mechanism

an automatic transmission

3 of a firearm : firing repeatedly until the trigger is released

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automatically

play \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

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automaticity

play \-mə-ˈti-sə-tē, -ma-\ noun

See automatic defined for English-language learners

See automatic defined for kids

Examples of automatic in a Sentence

Without thinking, he gave an automatic reply.
She always has an automatic smile for everyone.

Recent Examples of automatic from the Web

Police said Roston and Pulse got into an argument and started fighting in the parking lot when Pulse, 28, began shooting Roston, 41, with a semi-automatic handgun.

— katy bergen, kansascity, "Family of man accused of shooting Lyft driver: ‘Reserve judgment’ | The Kansas City Star," 3 Nov. 2017
Initially, the Ghost Gunner only aimed (OK, maybe some pun intended) to complete unfinished lower receivers for AR-15 semi-automatic rifles.

— nathan mattise, Ars Technica, "3D print a serial-free handgun at home with the latest Ghost Gunner update," 1 Oct. 2017
Why was her submerged SUV's automatic transmission left in park?

— marisa kwiatkowski, Indianapolis Star, "'It doesn't make sense': The mysterious death of Kristy Kelley," 21 Sep. 2017
Paccar’s newest Peterbilt models include lighter engines and automatic transmissions.

— erica e. phillips, WSJ, "Makers of Fuel-Guzzling Big Rigs Try to Go Green," 21 Sep. 2017
That comes with a new 10-speed automatic transmission.

— tom krisher, The Seattle Times, "Big sellers like Toyota Camry, Ram getting updates in 2018," 5 Sep. 2017
Bump stock devices do not turn semiautomatics into automatic weapons.

— james warren, The Hive, "Right-Wing Media Is Losing Its Mind Over Las Vegas," 5 Oct. 2017
In an attack in Las Vegas on Sunday, a lone gunman is believed to have fired automatic weapons into a gathering of 22,000 fans enjoying a country music festival.

— alan taylor, The Atlantic, "Mourning the Victims in Las Vegas," 3 Oct. 2017
That includes $200,000 for an automatic sprinkler system and $50,000 for site and building upgrades for the Americans with Disabilities Act.

— amy lavalley, Post-Tribune, "Study: County building in Portage is structurally sound, needs only updates," 6 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'automatic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of automatic

Greek automatos self-acting, from aut- + -matos (akin to Latin ment-, mens mind) — more at mind

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1686

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automatic Synonyms

Synonyms

instinctive, instinctual, involuntary, knee-jerk, mechanic, mechanical, robotic, spontaneous

Antonyms

nonmechanical

Near Antonyms

calculated, conscious, cultivated, deliberate, designed, intended, intentional, predetermined, prepared, projected, refined, rehearsed, volitional, voluntary, willed, willful (or wilful); advised, aforethought, careful, considered, foresighted, forethoughtful, measured, meticulous, reasoned, studied, thoughtful

Synonym Discussion of automatic

spontaneous, impulsive, instinctive, automatic, mechanical mean acting or activated without deliberation. spontaneous implies lack of prompting and connotes naturalness.

- a spontaneous burst of applause

impulsive implies acting under stress of emotion or spirit of the moment.

- impulsive acts of violence

instinctive stresses action involving neither judgment nor will.

- blinking is an instinctive reaction

automatic implies action engaging neither the mind nor the emotions and connotes a predictable response.

- his denial was automatic

mechanical stresses the lifeless, often perfunctory character of the response.

- a mechanical teaching method

Other Weapons and Explosives Terms

carbine, cudgel, muzzle, rapier

automatic

noun

Definition of automatic

1 : a machine or apparatus that operates automatically; especially : an automatic firearm

2 a : an automatic transmission

a car with a three-speed automatic

b : an automobile with an automatic transmission

Is your car an automatic or a manual?

3 American football : audible

See automatic defined for English-language learners

Examples of automatic in a Sentence

Will your next car be a manual or an automatic?

Recent Examples of automatic from the Web

Both of these engines are connected to six-speed automatics.

— g. chambers williams iii, star-telegram, "Ford 2017 Edge Sport model includes all-wheel drive, twin-turbo V-6 engine," 11 Aug. 2017
While the rest of the class has eight- or nine-speed conventional automatics, Porsche persists with a dual-clutch that adds one gear this year for a total of eight.

— tony quiroga, Car and Driver, "2017 Porsche Panamera Turbo," 18 July 2017
The only automatics available to the public are those that were in circulation before a 1986 ban.

— ryan santistevan, USA TODAY, "Here's the difference a 'bump stock' makes when firing a rifle," 7 Oct. 2017
See the rest of Diplo's tweets below: That’s not a reason to not ban automatics weapons .

— billboard staff, Billboard, "Diplo Shares Graphic Alleged Image of Las Vegas Shooting, Urges Gun Control," 4 Oct. 2017
Even then, no one can conceal-carry, and semi-automatics are out of the question.

— terrell jermaine starr, The Root, "New York City’s Tough Gun Laws Stopped Me From Killing Myself," 3 Oct. 2017
Gun control advocates said the tragedy was further proof that the US needs more curbs on military-style assault weapons – semi-automatics whose trigger must be pulled for each shot – and high-capacity magazines.

— patrik jonsson, The Christian Science Monitor, "For country fans, grappling with attack on ‘the most American of music’," 2 Oct. 2017
And comparing fuel economy and performance of manual to automatics seems really off.

— eric stafford, Car and Driver, "2017 Ford Mustang," 27 Sep. 2017
The decline of the true manual—thanks to the ease of automatics and the future-tech of paddle shifters in fancy cars—means that fewer Americans are exposed to stick-shift cars.

— matthew jancer, Popular Mechanics, "How to Drive Stick," 2 Oct. 2017

Origin and Etymology of automatic

see ¹automatic

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1870

See Words from the same year

AUTOMATIC Defined for English Language Learners

automatic

adjective

Definition of automatic for English Language Learners

of a machine or device : having controls that allow something to work or happen without being directly controlled by a person
of a gun : shooting many bullets very quickly when the trigger is pulled
: happening or done without deliberate thought or effort

automatic

noun

Definition of automatic for English Language Learners

: a gun that shoots many bullets very quickly : an automatic weapon
: a vehicle that changes gears by itself at different speeds : a car with automatic transmission

AUTOMATIC Defined for Kids

automatic

adjective au·to·mat·ic \ ˌȯ-tə-ˈma-tik \

Definition of automatic for Students

1 : involuntary

automatic blinking of eyelids

2 : being a machine or device that allows something to work without being directly controlled by a person

an automatic washer

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automatically

\-ti-kə-lē\ adverb

Law Dictionary

automatic

adjective au·to·mat·ic

legal Definition of automatic

: happening or existing through the operation of a preexisting arrangement that is triggered by some event; specifically : happening or existing through the operation of law