automatic

¹au·to·mat·ic

adjective \ˌȯ-tə-ˈma-tik\

Definition of AUTOMATIC

1

a : largely or wholly involuntary; especially : reflex 5 <automatic blinking of the eyelids>

b : acting or done spontaneously or unconsciously

c : done or produced as if by machine : mechanical <the answers were automatic>

2

: having a self-acting or self-regulating mechanism <an automatic transmission>

3

of a firearm : firing repeatedly until the trigger is released

— au·to·mat·i·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

— au·to·ma·tic·i·ty \-mə-ˈti-sə-tē, -ma-\ noun

Examples of AUTOMATIC

1. Without thinking, he gave an automatic reply.
2. She always has an automatic smile for everyone.

Origin of AUTOMATIC

Greek automatos self-acting, from aut- + -matos (akin to Latin ment-, mens mind) — more at mind

First Known Use: 1748

Related to AUTOMATIC

Synonyms

instinctive, instinctual, involuntary, knee-jerk, mechanic, mechanical, robotic, spontaneous

Antonyms

nonmechanical

Related Words

conditioned, natural, Pavlovian, reactive, reflex, simple, subliminal, unconscious, unforced, visceral; blind, inadvertent, unintended, unintentional, unwilling, unwitting; abrupt, quick, ready, sudden; ad-lib, extemporaneous, extempore, impromptu, improvised, offhand, offhanded, off-the-cuff, snap, spur-of-the-moment, unconsidered, unplanned, unpremeditated, unprepared, unprompted, unreasoned, unrehearsed, unstudied; casual, chance, chancy, haphazard, hasty, hit-or-miss, impetuous, impulsive, mindless, random, rash

Near Antonyms

calculated, conscious, cultivated, deliberate, designed, intended, intentional, predetermined, prepared, projected, refined, rehearsed, volitional, voluntary, willed, willful (or wilful); advised, aforethought, careful, considered, foresighted, forethoughtful, measured, meticulous, reasoned, studied, thoughtful

See Synonym Discussion at spontaneous

Other Weapons and Explosives Terms

carbine, cudgel, muzzle, rapier

Rhymes with AUTOMATIC

achromatic, acrobatic, aerobatic, anabatic, antistatic, aromatic, Asiatic, astigmatic, autocratic, bureaucratic, charismatic, cinematic, democratic, diplomatic, Eleatic, emblematic, enzymatic, Hanseatic, hieratic, Hippocratic, hydrostatic, kerygmatic, kleptocratic, melismatic, mobocratic, monocratic, morganatic, numismatic, operatic, phallocratic, photostatic, plutocratic, pre-Socratic, problematic, programmatic, symptomatic, systematic, technocratic, theocratic, thermostatic, undogmatic, undramatic

²automatic

noun

Definition of AUTOMATIC

1

: a machine or apparatus that operates automatically: as

a : an automatic firearm

b : an automatic transmission

2

: a semiautomatic firearm

3

: audible

Examples of AUTOMATIC

1. Will your next car be a manual or an automatic?

First Known Use of AUTOMATIC

1897

Rhymes with AUTOMATIC

aromatic, Asiatic, astigmatic, charismatic, Eleatic, pre-Socratic, problematic