1 automatism | Definition of automatism

automatism

noun
au路​tom路​a路​tism | \ 券-藞t盲-m蓹-藢ti-z蓹m How to pronounce automatism (audio) \

Definition of automatism

1a : the quality or state of being automatic
b : an automatic action
2 : the moving or functioning (as of an organ, tissue, or a body part) without conscious control that occurs either independently of external stimuli (as in the beating of the heart) or under the influence of external stimuli (as in pupil dilation)
3 : a theory that views the body as a machine and consciousness as a noncontrolling adjunct of the body
4 : suspension of the conscious mind to release subconscious images automatism 鈥攖he surrealist trend toward spontaneity and intuitionElle

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Other Words from automatism

automatist \ -​藞t盲-​m蓹-​tist How to pronounce automatist (audio) \ noun or adjective

Examples of automatism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While painters like Andr茅 Masson and Joan Mir贸 practiced visual automatism, others, Ren茅 Magritte, Max Ernst and Salvador Dal铆 among them, used meticulous technique to create optical puns and illusions. Teju Cole, New York Times, "Site Information Navigation," 18 Oct. 2016

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

First Known Use of automatism

1776, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

History and Etymology for automatism

French automatisme, from automate automaton, from Latin automaton

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More Definitions for automatism

automatism

noun
au路​tom路​a路​tism | \ 券-藞t盲m-蓹-藢tiz-蓹m How to pronounce automatism (audio) \

Medical Definition of automatism

1 : an automatic action especially : any action performed without the doer's intention or awareness
2 : the power or fact of moving or functioning without conscious control either independently of external stimulation (as in the beating of the heart) or more or less directly under the influence of external stimuli (as in the dilating or contracting of the pupil of the eye)

More from Merriam-Webster on automatism

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with automatism

Nglish: Translation of automatism for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about automatism