automaton
noun
au·tom·a·ton
| \ ȯ-ˈtä-mə-tən
, -mə-ˌtän\
, -mə-ˌtän\
plural automatons
or automata\ -mÉ™-tÉ™
, -mə-ˌtä \
, -mə-ˌtä \
Definition of automaton
2
: a machine or control mechanism designed to follow automatically a predetermined sequence of operations or respond to encoded instructions
3
: an individual who acts in a mechanical fashion
He is an unfeeling automaton.
Keep scrolling for more
Examples of automaton in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Isaac Asimov’s famous Three Laws of Robotics — constraints on the behavior of androids and automatons meant to ensure the safety of humans — were also famously incomplete. — Quanta Magazine, "How to Build a Robot That Wants to Change the World," 1 Nov. 2017 The Model 3 also debuts Tesla’s more powerful battery packs, produced in its vast battery-making automaton outside of Reno, Nev., known as the Gigafactory. — Dan Neil, WSJ, "First Test Drive of the Tesla Model 3 Performance: A Thrilling, Modern Marvel," 19 July 2018 But in general, the quality of consciousness refers to a capacity to experience one’s existence rather than just recording it or responding to stimuli like an automaton. — Quanta Magazine, "Neuroscience Readies for a Showdown Over Consciousness Ideas," 6 Mar. 2019 In Greek mythology, Hephaestus, the god of crafts, creates a giant bronze automaton to protect Europa, the mother of King Minos of Crete. — Ferris Jabr, Harper's magazine, "The Story of Storytelling," 10 Mar. 2019 Take, for example, one of the most extraordinary of all Greek myths, the story of the giant bronze automaton Talos. — Peter Thonemann, WSJ, "‘Gods and Robots’ Review: Men, Myths and Machines," 7 Dec. 2018 The equities side of Wall Street, including me, always writes off bond investors as automatons. — Andy Kessler, WSJ, "Stock Picking Is Like Time Travel," 13 Jan. 2019 This method is clearly unrealistic for anything less than preprogrammed automatons, but a simplified version that sees travelers boarding by alternating rows on alternating sides would also be a massive improvement over more prevalent methods. — Eric Limer, Popular Mechanics, "The Beautifully Efficient Airplane Boarding Method That Mere Humans Just Can't Pull Off," 5 Feb. 2019 That job is to make difficult and sometimes unpopular decisions, and not for members of Parliament to become Brexit-delivering automatons as some would have it. — Joseph C. Sternberg, WSJ, "Britain Risks Death by a Thousand Elections," 21 Nov. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'automaton.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for automaton
automaton
noun
English Language Learners Definition of automaton
: a machine that can move by itself
: a person who acts in a mechanical or machinelike way
See the full definition for automaton in the English Language Learners Dictionary
Keep scrolling for more