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.
The plane started service in 2017, but the two fatal crashes – in October 2018 and March of 2019 – led to a 20-month grounding of the jets, and investigations revealed a design flaw in its autopilot system. Chris Isidore, CNN, 6 Dec. 2024 To enable autonomous flight, the team fitted the robot with two propellers and an off-the-shelf drone autopilot called Pixracer. Ars Technica, 27 Nov. 2024 Tesla’s autopilot has a solid competitor in Alphabet’s Waymo robo-taxi business. Trefis Team, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024 That doesn’t mean ignoring risks and investing on autopilot. Paulina Likos, CNBC, 29 Nov. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near autopilot

Cite this Entry

“Autopilot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/autopilot. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on autopilot

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!