Automático

Automático is an adjective in Spanish and Portuguese meaning self-operating or functioning without ongoing human control. It describes devices, systems, or processes that operate automatically, typically through sensors, programmed instructions, or feedback. The word derives from Latin automaticus, via French automatique, from Greek automatos meaning self-moving. The feminine form is automática, and the masculine plural is automáticos; the feminine plural is automáticas.

In technology and engineering, automatic control refers to systems that maintain a desired state by adjusting inputs automatically, using feedback loops. Examples include thermostats, autopilots, and industrial automation. In everyday language, phrases such as puertas automáticas (automatic doors), iluminación automática (automatic lighting), or transmisión automática (automatic transmission) are common in Spanish and Portuguese contexts.

In firearms, arma automática denotes a weapon capable of firing multiple rounds with a single trigger pull, as distinguished from arma semiautomática, which fires one round per trigger pull. Legal definitions of automatic weapons vary by jurisdiction, with restrictions in many countries. The term also appears in broader contexts to describe machinery or processes designed to operate without continuous human control.

In linguistics and industry, automatización refers to the process of making a system automatic, while automated processes are studied under control theory and industrial automation. The term is widely used across science, engineering, and everyday life to denote systems that reduce or eliminate the need for manual operation.