autopilot
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of autopilot
Explanation
Autopilot is a system that controls the course of an airplane or ship. If the captain of a ship is using autopilot, she can take a break from manning the controls herself. When a plane is on autopilot, it's not exactly flying itself, but it's set to maintain a course or altitude while the pilot concentrates on other details of operating the airplane. Autopilot is short for automatic pilot, and the first such system for aircraft was invented in 1912. The nickname came later, in the 1930s. The slang meaning of autopilot is "out of habit," as when a sleep deprived worker goes through his whole day on autopilot.
Vocabulary lists containing autopilot
Florida's B.E.S.T. Roots: auto
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One of the Boys
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for July 13–July 19, 2025
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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.
I can make the mushrooms on autopilot, then look at what remains of my energy.
From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2026
In the preliminary findings, the Commission said the endless stream of content "shift the brain into autopilot mode, contributing to unhealthy habits".
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
Far too many songs—“National Treasures,” “Plot Twist”—are Drake on autopilot, rehashing familiar complaints without clever variations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 19, 2026
Employees who put all their work tasks on autopilot using AI tools are also in jeopardy of losing the critical-thinking skills that will make them valued assets in the new era of work.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 11, 2026
“Thanks for all the prayers and stuff,” I said on autopilot, turning to hold out a flyer.
From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas
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.
