# automata

/ɔˈtɑmətə/ (US) · /ˌɔːtəmˈɑːtɐ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/automata
Updated: 2026-05-28

## Definition

machines that can move or act by themselves, often made to look like people or animals. They are usually mechanical and follow a set of instructions to perform a task.

For teachers: plural of 'automaton'; refers to self-operating machines or mechanisms designed to follow a predetermined sequence of operations. Often used in the context of historical mechanical figures or theoretical computing models.

## Examples

- The museum has a collection of 18th-century mechanical automata.
- The clock tower features several wooden automata that emerge every hour to perform a short musical sequence for the crowd below.
- In the study of formal languages, finite automata serve as abstract mathematical models for machines that transition between states based on specific input symbols.

## Pitfalls

- Not "This automata is broken" but "This automaton is broken" — Automata is the plural form; use the singular 'automaton' when referring to just one machine.

## Usage notes

- Takes a plural verb. The singular form is 'automaton', though 'automatons' is sometimes used as an alternative plural in non-technical contexts.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.