'automat' originates from German and French use of 'Automat', ultimately from Greek 'αὐτόματον' (automaton), where Greek 'auto-' meant 'self' and '-mat(os)' related to 'acting' or 'moving'.

'automat' developed in modern European languages in the 19th and early 20th centuries (German 'Automat', French 'automat'), influenced by the earlier word 'automaton' from Ancient Greek; it entered English to name coin-operated self-service food dispensers.

Initially referring broadly to self-acting devices ('self-moving'), it later came to denote specifically coin-operated self-service restaurants and similar vending devices in common English usage.