robot
Americannoun
-
robots
plural
-
a machine that resembles a human and does mechanical, routine tasks on command.
-
a person who acts and responds in a mechanical, routine manner, usually subject to another's will; automaton.
-
any machine or mechanical device that operates automatically with humanlike skill.
adjective
noun
-
any automated machine programmed to perform specific mechanical functions in the manner of a man
-
(modifier) not controlled by man; automatic
a robot pilot
-
a person who works or behaves like a machine; automaton
-
a set of traffic lights
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of robot
< Czech, coined by Karel Čapek in the play R.U.R. (1920) from the base robot-, as in robota compulsory labor, robotník peasant owing such labor
Explanation
A robot is a mechanical creation that can move or act on its own. Science fiction is full of robots. Also called droids, Cylons, and bots, robots are certainly the stuff of science fiction stories. But there are plenty of real robots out there in the world, using their mechanical smarts to make life easier. There are robots that can vacuum the rug, dance, perform surgery, clean oil spills, and even build cars. The field of robotics is growing all the time. Maybe someday you'll even have that robot butler so many of us have dreamed about.
Vocabulary lists containing robot
Engineering - Introductory
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Engineering - Middle School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Engineering - High School
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
Leju Robotics, which makes the Kuavo humanoid robot, filed in May to list on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange’s ChiNext index, according to Reuters.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026
Already on the market is electric-vehicle maker Tesla, which is developing the Optimus humanoid robot.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026
The robot, which Lore said can make about 500 bowls an hour, will go live at Wonder’s Midtown East location in a few weeks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
The quadcopter was discovered at Leipzig airport late on Tuesday night, forcing one runway into lockdown as a bomb disposal robot rolled into action.
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026
They hit the giant robot pelican suit over and over again, rocking it this way and that.
From "Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody" by Patrick Ness
Foxconn, whose official name is Hon Hai Precision Industry, has gone beyond assembling low-margin iPhones to making AI servers for US tech giant Nvidia, along with electric vehicles and robots.
From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026
Overall, shipments of humanoid robots “nearly quadrupled” in the first half of 2026, according to the research firm.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026
Marc Lore believes the future of food lies in robots, drones and artificial intelligence-generated menus.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
The move follows other US restrictions on the imports of drones, humanoid robots and other tech products from China.
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026
The robots were all facing forward, all standing still.
From "The Wild Robot Escapes" by Peter Brown
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
