automation

Language: en

🇬🇧 /ɔːtəˈmeɪʃən/ 🇺🇸 /ɔtəˈmeɪʃən/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    The use of technology, machinery, or control systems to perform tasks with minimal human intervention, typically in manufacturing, industry, or business processes.; The technique, method, or system of operating or controlling a process by highly automatic means, such as electronic devices, reducing human effort to a minimum.; The state or condition of being operated or controlled automatically without direct human involvement.; The displacement of human workers by machines or software in the performance of tasks, often discussed in economic and social contexts.; In computing and software, the process of creating scripts or programs that perform repetitive tasks without manual input.

🔗 Details

Word forms

uncountable

Collocations

industrial automationhome automationoffice automationprocess automationautomation technologyautomation systemautomation tools

Derivatives

automateautomaticautomaticallyautomatedautomatonautomatablesemi-automation

Synonyms

mechanizationcomputerizationrobotizationautomatic operation

Antonyms

manual laborhandwork

Commonly confused

automaton
EN: 'Automaton' is a countable noun referring to a self-operating machine or robot; 'automation' is the uncountable concept or process of making things operate automatically.
automatic
EN: 'Automatic' is an adjective (or a noun for a type of firearm/gearbox); 'automation' is the noun for the process or concept.

Spelling tips

EN: Remember the suffix is '-tion' (not '-sion'). Do not confuse with 'automaton,' which has a different ending and meaning.

💬 Examples

  1. The factory invested heavily in automation to increase production efficiency and reduce labor costs.

  2. Home automation allows residents to control lighting, temperature, and security systems remotely.

  3. The transition to full automation of the assembly line took nearly three years to complete.

  4. Many economists debate whether automation will lead to widespread unemployment or create new types of jobs.

  5. The team used automation scripts to run regression tests every night after code deployment.