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Synonyms

robotics

American  
[roh-bot-iks] / roʊˈbɒt ɪks /

noun

(used with a singular verb)
  1. the use of computer-controlled robots to perform manual tasks, especially on an assembly line.


robotics British  
/ rəʊˈbɒtɪks /

noun

  1. the science or technology of designing, building, and using robots

  2. another name for robot dancing

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of robotics

1941; robot + -ics; coined by Isaac Asimov

Explanation

Robotics is the study of robots, or machines that are designed to do certain jobs. If you're fascinated with robots, you might want to study robotics in college. Robotics, the branch of science that studies the technology and uses of robots, involves various kinds of engineering and computer programming. While a robot is defined as a machine that can be programmed to do a job, many people interested in robotics (especially science fiction fans) think of them as a mechanical replacement for a human. Robotics comes from robot, from the Czech robotiti, "work or drudge."

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Vocabulary lists containing robotics

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Its hands – still a major robotics challenge – lack strength and dexterity, and it has no proper wrists yet.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

The military is clearly interested, says Dean Fankhauser at Robozaps, a humanoid robotics advisory firm that runs a marketplace for commercial systems.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

“Think about in history and when technology has stepped in,” she said, using the auto industry with robotics as an example.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 5, 2026

Sixth Wall is actively accepting requests for authorized character access across a range of use cases including interactive storytelling, conversational games and connected physical products and robotics.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 3, 2026

He told her about a cancer scare his dad had, and about a robotics project he was working on.

From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti

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