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.

Also, while the eight-speed automatic transmission may feel more familiar, it can’t match a CVT’s overall efficiency.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 11, 2025

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

If a third pedal is not for you, the Z is also available with a nine-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters.

From The Verge • Aug. 8, 2022

It did not have Powerglide automatic transmission; Old Chao had had to settle for manual.

From "Typical American" by Gish Jen

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