automaton
noun
Did you know?
The idea of the automaton has fascinated people for many centuries. A traveler to the emperor's court in Byzantium in A.D. 949 reported that mechanical birds sat in a golden tree singing the songs of their species; that mechanical lions flanked the throne, roaring and switching their great tails; and that, as he stood watching, the emperor's throne suddenly shot upward toward the high ceiling, and when it slowly descended the emperor was wearing new robes. Early automata (notice the common plural form) often relied on water, steam, or falling weights to power them. Today automata, often called robots, are used in manufacturing plants to build not only vehicles but also much smaller electronic equipment.
Examples of automaton in a Sentence
Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 26 Oct. 2025
The tech layers a hyperspectral imaging system with artificial intelligence, designed for automaton.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 24 Sep. 2025
People are not mere automatons driven by the forces of society.
—Matt Fleming, Oc Register, 20 Sep. 2025
Just look at the vast collection of 2,500 watches, enamel miniatures, and musical automatons on display at the city’s Patek Philippe Museum.
—Anna Haines, AFAR Media, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for automaton
Cite this Entry
“Automaton.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/automaton. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
automaton
noun
Share