autopilot

noun au·to·pi·lot \ ˈȯ-tō-ˌpī-lət \

|Updated on: 1 Jul 2018

Definition of autopilot

1 : a device for automatically steering ships, aircraft, and spacecraft; also : the automatic control provided by such a device

2 : automatic pilot 2

See autopilot defined for English-language learners

Examples of autopilot in a Sentence

an airplane equipped with an autopilot
The plane was flying on autopilot.

Recent Examples of autopilot from the Web

This season Davis has a chance to become the face of a unit that seemingly churns out NFL talent on autopilot.

— chris johnson and eric single, SI.com, "Top 100 College Football Players of 2018: Nos. 30-11," 20 June 2018
The autopilot is said to feature a recovery mode that allows a pilot to take hands off the controls allowing the aircraft systems to stabilize the rotorcraft in a difficult situation.

— gordon dickson, star-telegram, "Do you wish helicopters were quieter? Check out this new Airbus model | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 16 Mar. 2018
At least two Tesla drivers have died while behind the wheel of a car on autopilot, but Herzberg was the first pedestrian fatality of an autonomous vehicle, or AV.

— betsy morais, Longreads, "The Menace and the Promise of Autonomous Vehicles," 13 June 2018
LeBron would be granted the luxury of having his workload cut down tremendously and could play on autopilot throughout the rest of his career—winning title after title.

— the crossover staff, SI.com, "What's LeBron's Best Option This Summer? Debating 10 Teams and One Crazy Idea," 5 June 2018
Tesla, possibly on autopilot, slams into truck in dramatic Utah wreck.

— Fox News, "FOX NEWS FIRST: US to officially open Jerusalem embassy; Hawaii's new volcanic fissures spark more evacuations," 14 May 2018
An autopilot parenting personality runs things for me.

— rivka galchen, The New Yorker, "Mum’s the Word," 4 June 2017
This helicopter is so smooth that Gensse didn’t even need the autopilot system, designed to help pilots (those who haven’t spent seven years helping develop and test this aircraft) recover from bad situations.

— eric adams, WIRED, "Airbus' H160 Helicopter Helps Save Pilots from Their Own Mistakes," 31 May 2018
But investigators also noted the autopilot system isn't designed to reliably prevent crashes.

— chris woodyard, USA TODAY, "Tesla in Autopilot self-driving mode crashes into parked police cruiser," 29 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'autopilot.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of autopilot

1916

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

AUTOPILOT Defined for English Language Learners

autopilot

noun

Definition of autopilot for English Language Learners

: a device that steers a ship, aircraft, or spacecraft in place of a person

Learn More about autopilot

Spanish Central: Translation of autopilot Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about autopilot

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up autopilot? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

autopilot

Definition of autopilot

Examples of autopilot in a Sentence

Recent Examples of autopilot from the Web

First Known Use of autopilot

AUTOPILOT Defined for English Language Learners

autopilot

Definition of autopilot for English Language Learners

Learn More about autopilot

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

festinate

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

The Good, The Bad, & The Semantically Imprecise - 7/20

An Explanation of Why We (Sometimes) Truncate Definitions

'Kayfabe': It's Illusive and Elusive

Words We're Watching: 'Laze'

Ask the Editors

Ghost Word

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

Literally

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

Word Games

Test Your Emoji Exceptionalism

Obscure Shapes

How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Word Winder's CrossWinder

The Good, The Bad, & The Semantically Imprecise - 7/20

Trending: Giuliani: Secret Recordings 'Powerful Exculpatory Evidence'

5 Words for Clumsy People

Test Your Emoji Exceptionalism

Ghost Word

autopilot

Definition of autopilot

Examples of autopilot in a Sentence

Recent Examples of autopilot from the Web

First Known Use of autopilot

AUTOPILOT Defined for English Language Learners

autopilot

Definition of autopilot for English Language Learners

Learn More about autopilot

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

The Good, The Bad, & The Semantically Imprecise - 7/20

Trending: Giuliani: Secret Recordings 'Powerful Exculpatory Evidence'

5 Words for Clumsy People

Test Your Emoji Exceptionalism

Ghost Word