animatronic
adjective
an·i·ma·tron·ic ˌa-nə-mə-ˈträ-nik 
: of, relating to, or being a puppet or similar figure that is animated by means of electromechanical devices
animatronically
ˌa-nə-mə-ˈträ-ni-k(ə-)lē
adverb 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web In the sketch, an animatronic Paddington Bear is seen at Buckingham Palace taking tea with the queen, drinking from the spout of the royal tea pot and offering the monarch one of his marmalade sandwiches from under his trademark hat. 
Joanna Sugden, WSJ, 12 Sep. 2022 The star developed a love for vintage films from the early Disney days, as well as the animatronic and stop-motion movies prevalent in the ’80s and ’90s. Jeff Benjamin, Billboard, 2 Sep. 2022 This choice was largely forced onto the young director due to problems with his massive animatronic creature. Alex Galbraith, EW.com, 23 Aug. 2022 The students were showered with compliments from Tim Erickson, an emergency medicine physician at the Brigham who oversaw their attempts to resuscitate the animatronic dummy and shared real-world tips. Usha Lee Mcfarling, STAT, 21 July 2022 The Encounters gallery showcases the artistry from the worlds of sci-fi, fantasy, and horror, featuring original set pieces, costumes, and iconic characters including C-3PO, a full-body animatronic E.T., Okoye, and Edward Scissorhands. Jim Dobson, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2021 One of her favorite dinner discussions was about progress on a Seven Seas salad dressing commercial featuring talking rabbits, some real and some animatronic, before the time of computer animation. Maria Halkias, Dallas News, 25 May 2021 Instead of building animatronic characters or hiring actors in costumes to entertain and communicate with guests, Disney could use the technology to interact with guests through 3-D projections, according to experts who have read the patent. Hugo Martín, Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2022 Colorful Christmas will host visitors for holiday animatronic characters, special Christmas crafts, a holiday scavenger hunt and seasonal treats through Jan. 3. Patrick Connolly, orlandosentinel.com, 2 Dec. 2021 See More
Joanna Sugden, WSJ, 12 Sep. 2022 The star developed a love for vintage films from the early Disney days, as well as the animatronic and stop-motion movies prevalent in the ’80s and ’90s. Jeff Benjamin, Billboard, 2 Sep. 2022 This choice was largely forced onto the young director due to problems with his massive animatronic creature. Alex Galbraith, EW.com, 23 Aug. 2022 The students were showered with compliments from Tim Erickson, an emergency medicine physician at the Brigham who oversaw their attempts to resuscitate the animatronic dummy and shared real-world tips. Usha Lee Mcfarling, STAT, 21 July 2022 The Encounters gallery showcases the artistry from the worlds of sci-fi, fantasy, and horror, featuring original set pieces, costumes, and iconic characters including C-3PO, a full-body animatronic E.T., Okoye, and Edward Scissorhands. Jim Dobson, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2021 One of her favorite dinner discussions was about progress on a Seven Seas salad dressing commercial featuring talking rabbits, some real and some animatronic, before the time of computer animation. Maria Halkias, Dallas News, 25 May 2021 Instead of building animatronic characters or hiring actors in costumes to entertain and communicate with guests, Disney could use the technology to interact with guests through 3-D projections, according to experts who have read the patent. Hugo Martín, Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2022 Colorful Christmas will host visitors for holiday animatronic characters, special Christmas crafts, a holiday scavenger hunt and seasonal treats through Jan. 3. Patrick Connolly, orlandosentinel.com, 2 Dec. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
short for audio-animatronic
First Known Use
1972, in the meaning defined above