autopilot

noun

au·​to·​pi·​lot ˈȯ-tō-ˌpī-lət How to pronounce autopilot (audio)
1
: a device for automatically steering ships, aircraft, and spacecraft
also : the automatic control provided by such a device
2

Examples of autopilot in a Sentence

an airplane equipped with an autopilot The plane was flying on autopilot.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And if current assets churn off a dividend, lawmakers are allowed to set their paydays on autopilot to reinvest in the same firm, growing that footprint. Philip Elliott, Time, 9 Mar. 2026 Flight data showed the plane was operating normally at the time of the crash and was flying on autopilot, federal officials said. Katie Langford, Denver Post, 8 Mar. 2026 Drivers of Teslas without autopilot still recorded crashes at a fewer rate than the numbers from the NHTSA, at about one crash for every 963,000 miles. Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 26 Feb. 2026 That’s usually when the shift from buying on autopilot to buying with intent happens. Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for autopilot

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of autopilot was in 1917

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Autopilot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/autopilot. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.

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