auto
noun
auto
1 American
[aw-toh]
/ ˈɔ toʊ /
noun
autos
plural
adjective
auto-
2
American
auto-
3
American
auto-
4
American
auto.
5
American
abbreviation
-
automatic.
-
automobile.
-
automotive.
auto
1
British
/ ˈɔːtəʊ /
noun
-
-
short for automobile
-
( as modifier )
auto parts
-
-
informal short for autorickshaw
auto-
2
British
combining form
-
self; same; of or by the same one
autobiography
-
acting from or occurring within; self-caused
autohypnosis
-
self-propelling; automatic
automobile
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of auto1
An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900; by shortening
Origin of auto-2
< Greek, combining form of autós self
Origin of auto-3
see origin at auto
Explanation
An auto is a car. If you drive your auto too fast, you might get a speeding ticket. The word auto is an informal, shortened form of automobile. You're most likely to hear the word auto when someone's talking about insurance, auto parts, or the auto industry. Automobile was originally a French word, formed from the Greek autos, or "self," and the French mobile, "moving."
Vocabulary lists containing auto
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Find insight on Tesla, Daimler Truck, Canadian National Railway and more in the latest Market Talks covering the auto and transport sector.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
We also want to get an auto pen so we can write handwritten cards for guests because it’s kind of hard to write perfect handwriting in different languages and in cursive.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
French auto giant Renault said Thursday that global sales stalled in the first six months of the year, held back by weaker Dacia sales in Europe.
From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026
Tesla reported weaker-than-expected quarterly profits on Wednesday despite increased auto sales, depressing shares in after-hours trading amid questions over massive capital spending plans.
From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026
Cleve Goins, the auto parts man asked without directing the question to anyone in particular.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
An auto- inflammatory disease is defined by chronic inflammation, unprovoked by an infection, when antibody concentrations are not high.
From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022
So you used to be able to post to WordPress and we would auto- post to Tumblr, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook etc., and they turned off those API is after Cambridge Analytica.
From The Verge ● Aug. 14, 2019
“Yet while auto- and steelworkers generally shared some of the gains of their industries, the growers rarely got their piece of the pie,” Simon writes.
From Washington Post ● Sep. 1, 2017
Debating the question “is the iCar real?” has become a favorite barroom distraction for auto- and tech journos alike.
From Time ● Apr. 18, 2016
Moreover, as was shown by what followed, she was oddly exercising the faculty of invention upon the spe- ciality of the clever Jacquet Droz, the designer of auto- matic substitutes for human limbs.
From Far from the Madding Crowd by Hardy, Thomas
Industries from medical devices to autos have asked the administration for help addressing the shortage.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026
Heidelberg Materials gained 2.4%, while autos in the index continued a cautious rebound.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 3, 2026
If they get some reductions, it could be a boost for U.S. autos and manufacturers impacted by the levies.
From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026
That uncertainty will be felt most in sectors dependent on the trade such as autos, metals like aluminum, energy, fruits and vegetables.
From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026
He heard the sound of autos coming into the driveway.
From "Native Son" by Richard Wright
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
