What does "autopilot" mean?
A mechanical, electrical, or hydraulic system used to guide a vehicle without assistance from a human being.
Autopilot
/ˈɔːtəʊˌpaɪlət/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A mechanical, electrical, or hydraulic system used to guide a vehicle without assistance from a human being.
- Grammar: autopilot is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: automatic pilot, automatic flight control, automatic mode, automatic operation.
- Useful contrasts: active supervision, hand operated system, hands-on piloting.
- Usage evidence: He mistook the car's cruise control for autopilot.
How to use "autopilot"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "autopilot" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "autopilot" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "autopilot" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "autopilot" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "autopilot" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "automatic pilot" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "autopilot", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A mechanical, electrical, or hydraulic system used to guide a vehicle without assistance from a human being. countable, uncountable
"I set the autopilot to due south, so I could get some rest."
- 2 a navigational device that automatically keeps ships or planes or spacecraft on a steady course wordnet
- 3 A state of mind where one no longer thinks about doing one's actions, but acts mechanically. broadly, countable, figuratively, uncountable
"I've been doing this 12 hours non-stop, and am so hungry and tired that I've stopped thinking: I'm now on autopilot."
- 4 a cognitive state in which you act without self-awareness wordnet
Verb
- 1 To pilot itself; to drive or travel automatically. intransitive
Synonyms
All synonyms automatic pilotautomatic flight controlautomatic modeautomatic operationclosed loop controllercontrol device
Antonyms
Example
"He mistook the car's cruise control for autopilot."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "autopilot"?
Common synonyms include: automatic pilot, automatic flight control, automatic mode, automatic operation, closed loop controller, control device.
How do you use "autopilot" in a sentence?
He mistook the car's cruise control for autopilot.
How do you pronounce "autopilot"?
Pronounced /ˈɔːtəʊˌpaɪlət/.
Etymology
From auto- + pilot.