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
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.
One of the other attractive things is that we are now seeing a huge amount of automation come into the construction of solar fields.
From Barron's • May 15, 2026
Goldman Sachs estimates that 300 million jobs globally are vulnerable to AI automation.
From MarketWatch • May 15, 2026
SAP launched its new Autonomous Enterprise software suite, integrating data, cloud, AI, and automation features to automate business processes.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026
In the industrious south, automation is reshaping factories and supply chains, and megacities like Chongqing have become the stuff of influencers' feeds.
From BBC • May 12, 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.
