# bot

/ˈbɔt/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bot
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. automated software

noun · CEFR B1

a computer program that performs repetitive tasks automatically, often pretending to be a human user.

For teachers: an autonomous or semi-autonomous software agent designed to execute repetitive tasks, frequently within a network environment.

- The website uses a bot to answer simple customer questions in the chat.
- Security experts identified a network of malicious bots designed to overwhelm the server with fake traffic during the holiday sale.

Usage: Often used as a suffix in compounds like 'chatbot' or 'spambot'.

### 2. video game character

noun · CEFR B1

a character in a video game that is controlled by the computer instead of a person.

For teachers: a computer-controlled non-player character (NPC) in a multiplayer video game that simulates the actions of a human opponent or teammate.

- I practiced my shooting skills against bots before joining a real match online.
- The developers improved the enemy bots to make them behave more like strategic human players in the higher difficulty settings.

### 3. physical robot

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a short way of saying 'robot'.

For teachers: a colloquial clipping of 'robot', referring to a physical mechanical entity.

- The students built a small bot that could navigate through a maze.
- The laboratory is testing a swarm of miniature bots designed for search and rescue operations in unstable environments.

### 5. to use automation

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to use a computer program to do work or play a game for you automatically.

For teachers: to employ automated scripts or software agents to perform actions, often in a way that violates a platform's terms of service.

- He was banned from the game because he was caught botting to get more gold.
- The account was flagged after the system detected it was botting thousands of likes on promotional posts within a few minutes.

## Examples

- A bot answered my question on the website.
- The company uses a customer service bot to handle basic inquiries before connecting callers to a real person.
- Security experts warned that a sophisticated bot was responsible for the sudden surge in fake accounts designed to spread misinformation across the platform.

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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.