Synonyms

automatic transmission

American

noun

an automotive transmission requiring either very little or no manual shifting of gears.

automatic transmission British

noun

a transmission system in a motor vehicle, usually incorporating a fluid clutch, in which the gears change automatically

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of automatic transmission

First recorded in 1945–50

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:

automatic transmission

This car’s propulsion system—including a nine-speed automatic transmission and fully variable all-wheel drive—is so heavily damped and isolated it might as well be in another car.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 2, 2026

If the test is taken in an automatic car, the driver would get a Category B Auto licence, restricting them to driving to vehicles with automatic transmission only.

From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2025

In the U.S., car crash rates and pedestrian fatalities have recently erupted; potential culprits include “car bloat,” smartphones, COVID-related anomie, and the automatic transmission, which frees up motorists’ hands to, say, use TikTok.

From Slate ● May 25, 2024

But buyers wanting an automatic transmission or all-weather utility will still find the Golf R a more agreeable option.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 1, 2023

A Kawasaki four by four, powered by a 400cc engine with automatic transmission.

From "Stormbreaker" by Anthony Horowitz

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023