automatism

Meaning

1. (uncountable) Automatic or involuntary action.
2. (uncountable) The power of initiating vital processes from within the cell, organ, or organism, independent of external stimulus.
3. (uncountable) The doctrine that animals are automata, operating according to mechanical laws.
4. (uncountable) A surrealist painting technique whereby one attempts to move the brush, pen etc. without conscious control over it.
5. (countable) An action performed subconsciously, without any apparent direction from the mind; a thought which appears spontaneously in one's consciousness.

Synonyms

aposiopesis

automaticity

averseness

loathness

unwillingness

repetitive movements

automatic behavior

Translations

automatisme

automatismo

automatismo

αυτοματισμός

automatisme

Automatik

automatisme

otomatizm

svogliatezza

riluttanza

renitenza

unwillkürliche Funktionsabläufe

automatie

malavoglia

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɔːˈtɒmətɪzəm/

Etymology

From automat(on) + -ism.