# automaton

> English word · Noun · IPA /ɔːˈtɒmətən/ · frequency rank #42,534

## Definitions
1. A machine or robot designed to follow a precise sequence of instructions.
2. A person who acts like a machine or robot, often defined as having a monotonous lifestyle and lacking in emotion.
3. A formal system, such as a finite-state machine or cellular automaton.
4. A toy in the form of a mechanical figure.
5. The self-acting power of the muscular and nervous systems, by which movement is effected without intelligent determination.

## Etymology
From Ancient Greek αὐτόματον (autómaton), neuter of αὐτόματος (autómatos, “self moving, self willed”). Doublet of automat.

## Easily confused with
- **automate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/automate-vs-automaton)
- **automata** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/automata-vs-automaton)
- **automatic** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/automatic-vs-automaton)
- **automated** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/automated-vs-automaton)
- **automation** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/automation-vs-automaton)

## Common misspellings (12)
`atuomaton`, `auotmaton`, `autmoaton`, `autoamton`, `automaotn`, `automatno`, `automatonn`, `automatton`, `autommaton`, `automtaon`, `auttomaton`, `uatomaton`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/automaton