autopilot

noun

au·​to·​pi·​lot ˈȯ-tō-ˌpī-lət 

1

: a device for automatically steering ships, aircraft, and spacecraft

also : the automatic control provided by such a device

2

: automatic pilot sense 2

Examples of autopilot in a Sentence

an airplane equipped with an autopilot

The plane was flying on autopilot.

Recent Examples on the Web

Set this system up once, then post on autopilot without losing your tone. —Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025

Forty miles out, two minutes to the target, Tibbets turned the plane over to Ferebee on autopilot. —David Perlmutt, Charlotte Observer, 6 Aug. 2025

But perhaps his greatest contribution in his second term as president may be forcing people in all sectors of society to confront important issues in education, immigration and citizenship that have for far too long operated on autopilot with little concern for the ultimate consequences. —Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2025

For years, this program has been on autopilot, with no USDA insight into real-time data. —Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

auto- + pilot entry 1, as shortening of automatic pilot

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for autopilot

• eyelet
• islet
• pilot
• stylet