Phrase guide

state machine

noun · 2 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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1

noun

Meaning 1

Ellipsis of finite-state machine.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis

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

Examples

  • This algorithm will produce a state machine for parsing a given context-free grammar.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The state machinery; state apparatus.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Marxism

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 狀態機 /状态机 (zhuàngtàijī) — ellipsis of finite-state machine
  • Chinese Mandarin: 國家機器 /国家机器 (guójiā jīqì) — state apparatus