Cyborg Was Coined for Space Travel
A cyborg is part human, part machine. The word was invented in 1960 in a paper about adapting astronauts to space.
A cyborg is an organism with mechanical or electronic components integrated into its body. The word was coined in 1960 by Manfred Clynes and Nathan Kline in a paper proposing that, rather than build spacecraft to recreate earth conditions, it might be easier to modify the astronaut. They blended *cybernetic* and *organism*.
- A part-mechanical organism. *A fictional cyborg.*
- Cybernetic — relating to control systems. *Cybernetic theory.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | cyborg | A film cyborg. |
| Plural | cyborgs | Fictional cyborgs. |
| Related | android | A humanoid android. |
| Related | robot | An industrial robot. |
| Related | cybernetics | The field of cybernetics. |
How it is used in a sentence
- The word was coined in 1960.For a space medicine paper.
- A pacemaker arguably makes one a cyborg.On the broadest definition.
- Androids are entirely artificial.Unlike cyborgs.
Artificial beings compared
- Cyborg — a living organism with integrated technology
- Robot — an entirely machine device, from Czech *robota*, forced labour
- Android — a robot in human form
- Automaton — a self-moving machine, often mechanical
- Cybernetics — the study of control and communication in systems
A blend of *cybernetic* and *organism*, coined in 1960. *Cybernetics* comes from Greek *kybernetes*, a steersman.
Who coined the word?
Manfred Clynes and Nathan Kline, in a 1960 paper on adapting the human body for space travel.
Cyborg or android?
A cyborg is a living being with technology added. An android is entirely artificial but shaped like a human.