automation
Americannoun
-
the technique, method, or system of operating or controlling a process by highly automatic means, as by electronic devices, reducing human intervention to a minimum.
-
a mechanical device, operated electronically, that functions automatically, without continuous input from an operator.
-
act or process of automating.
-
the state of being automated.
noun
-
the use of methods for controlling industrial processes automatically, esp by electronically controlled systems, often reducing manpower
-
the extent to which a process is so controlled
Other Word Forms
- proautomation adjective
Etymology
Origin of automation
First recorded in 1945–50; autom(atic) ( def. ) + (oper)ation ( def. )
Explanation
Automation means making something automatic, or mechanized. If there's smoke in your house and your smoke detector is set up to "call" the fire department, that's an example of automation. Car companies were the first manufacturers to use assembly lines, where the steps of building a car were divided among workers––and when those jobs started to be done more often by machines then by people, an executive at Ford coined the term automation to describe what was happening.
Vocabulary lists containing automation
To Thine Own Self Be True: Auto
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
President Obama's Farewell Address
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Industrial Revolution - Introductory
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Snyder expressed concern that such automation would taint the company’s efforts to sustain its in-person customer service and fresh food.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026
The project shows how AI is beginning to reshape parts of the cybersecurity industry, with investors trying to anticipate which areas are built to last and which are ripe to be disrupted by automation.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026
Businesses are increasingly relying on automation to reduce costs and save time.
From Science Daily • Apr. 5, 2026
Across India, the quiet machinery of automation has been reshaping - and in many cases, eliminating - the jobs that the middle class was built on.
From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026
An astonishing amount of the ship ran on automation.
From "Ship Breaker" by Paolo Bacigalupi
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.
