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

In his view, an issue with autopilot could explain why the Solong headed for the seemingly stationary Stena Immaculate. —William Lambers, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025

This move lower followed a Monday report from Reuters that said Tesla’s autopilot software upgrades in China left owners disappointed. —Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 1 Mar. 2025

On autopilot, your brain lures you into looking at unknowns as a threat. —Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025

Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander descended from lunar orbit on autopilot, aiming for the slopes of an ancient volcanic dome in an impact basin on the moon’s northeastern edge of the near side. —Marcia Dunn, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 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