robot

American  

[roh-bot] / ˈroʊ bɒt /

noun

robots plural

1. a machine that resembles a human and does mechanical, routine tasks on command.

2. a person who acts and responds in a mechanical, routine manner, usually subject to another's will; automaton.

3. any machine or mechanical device that operates automatically with humanlike skill.

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adjective

1. operating automatically.

   a robot train operating between airline terminals.

robot British  

/ ˈrəʊbɒt /

noun

1. any automated machine programmed to perform specific mechanical functions in the manner of a man

2. (modifier) not controlled by man; automatic

   a robot pilot

3. a person who works or behaves like a machine; automaton

4. a set of traffic lights

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robot Scientific  

/ rō′bŏt′ /

1. A machine designed to replace human beings in performing a variety of tasks, either on command or by being programmed in advance.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• robotism
  noun
• robot-like
  adjective
• robotic
  adjective
• robotistic
  adjective
• robotlike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• robots
  plural

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.

Example Sentences

Martin sees David as a threat, and Monica can barely look at the robot boy she chose to bring into her home in Martin’s place.

From Salon • Jun. 28, 2026

Modern technology enters the arena with a nimble-fingered robot.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 26, 2026

Agility’s flagship humanoid robot is known as Digit.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 24, 2026

Agility Robotics, founded in 2015, offers its Digit robot for lease, designed for logistics and material handling.

From Barron's • Jun. 24, 2026

While the robot swam through the deep, she let out bursts of clicks and hoped that eventually she’d hear them echoing back to her.

From "The Wild Robot Protects" by Peter Brown