animatronic

adjective

an·​i·​ma·​tron·​ic ˌa-nə-mə-ˈträ-nik How to pronounce animatronic (audio)
: of, relating to, or being a puppet or similar figure that is animated by means of electromechanical devices
animatronically adverb

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Come for all the doggie high jinks – thanks to a ton of animatronic animals and a John Hughes screenplay – and stay for Close getting dunked in a vat of molasses. Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 27 May 2023 In the lobby, there's an animatronic Tyrannosaurus rex that welcomes guests to the check-in process, and just one floor up, the digital concierge is available to share tips on what to see, where to eat, and when to shop. Catherine Garcia, The Week, 6 May 2023 Unicorn World — May 20-21 At the Indiana Convention Center that same weekend is a unicorn expo with life-sized animatronic unicorns, themed rides and bouncy castles as well as arts, crafts and face painting. The Indianapolis Star, 5 May 2023 Parkgoers caught the animatronic fire from every angle, at every stage of burn. R.i.p. Murphy, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2023 Watch: Videos show Disneyland animatronic dragon catching fire April 23, 202300:37 Disneyland cast members evacuated the area, and the fire was quickly extinguished, Anaheim Police Sgt. Mirna Alsharif, NBC News, 23 Apr. 2023 The film's animatronic characters come courtesy of Jim Henson's Creature Shop. Clark Collis, EW.com, 6 Apr. 2023 There's very little here that’s stagnant on this larger-than-life set as your attention is consumed by animatronic characters that never cease moving, spinning coins and an adorable Yoshi running amuck. Carly Caramanna, Chron, 6 Mar. 2023 Regular zoo visitors will remember previous summers' special exhibits by Dino Don, including the one featuring animatronic dinosaurs and last summer's dragon exhibit. Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 12 May 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'animatronic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

short for audio-animatronic

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of animatronic was in 1972

Dictionary Entries Near animatronic

Cite this Entry

“Animatronic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/animatronic. Accessed 5 Jun. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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