Phrase guide

finite-state machine

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A formalism for describing computation, consisting of a finite set of states and a transition function describing when to move from one state to another.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computing, computing-theory, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: finite-state automaton, state machine, finite automaton, automaton

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: transition system, pushdown automaton, Turing machine

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: краен автомат (kraen avtomat) — formalism for describing computation
  • Chinese Mandarin: 有限狀態機 /有限状态机 — formalism for describing computation
  • Finnish: tilakone — formalism for describing computation
  • Finnish: äärellinen automaatti — formalism for describing computation
  • French: automate fini — formalism for describing computation
  • German: endlicher Automat — formalism for describing computation
  • German: Zustandsautomat — formalism for describing computation
  • German: Zustandsmaschine — formalism for describing computation
  • Romanian: automat finit — formalism for describing computation