Robinson

American  

[rob-in-suhn] / ˈrɒb ɪn sən /

noun

1. Bill Bojangles, 1878–1949, U.S. tap dancer.

2. Boardman 1876–1952, U.S. painter and illustrator, born in Nova Scotia.

3. Brooks Calbert, 1937–2023, U.S. baseball player: Baseball Hall of Fame 1983.

4. Edward G. Emanuel Goldenberg, 1893–1973, U.S. actor, born in Romania.

5. Edwin Arlington, 1869–1935, U.S. poet.

6. Frank, 1935–2019, U.S. baseball player: became first Black major-league manager in 1975.

7. Frederick John, Viscount Goderich 1st Earl of Ripon, 1782–1859, British statesman: prime minister 1827–28.

8. Jack Roosevelt Jackie, 1919–72, U.S. baseball player: the 20th century's first Black major-league player 1947–56.

9. James Harvey, 1863–1936, U.S. historian.

10. Mary, born 1944, Irish lawyer and politician: first woman to serve as president of Ireland 1990–97.

11. Ray Walker SmithSugar Ray, 1921–1989, U.S. boxer.

12. Sir Robert, 1886–1975, English chemist: Nobel Prize 1947.

13. a male given name.

---

Robinson British  

/ ˈrɒbɪnsən /

noun

1. Edward G. , real name Emanuel Goldenberg . 1893–1973, US film actor, born in Romania, famous esp for gangster roles. His films include Little Caesar (1930), Brother Orchid (1940), Double Indemnity (1944), and All My Sons (1948)

2. Edward Arlington . 1869–1935, US poet, author of narrative verse, often based on Arthurian legend. His works include Collected Poems (1922), The Man Who Died Twice (1924), and Tristram (1927)

3. ( William ) Heath . 1872–1944, British cartoonist and book illustrator, best known for his comic drawings of fantastic machines

4. John ( Arthur Thomas )1919–83, British bishop and theologian, best known for his controversial Honest to God (1963), which popularized radical theological discussion. He was suffragan Bishop of Woolwich (1959–69)

5. Mary . born 1944, Irish barrister and politician: president of Ireland 1990–97; UN high commissioner for human rights (1997–2002)

6. Smokey , real name William Robinson . born 1940, US Motown singer, songwriter, and producer. His hits include "The Tears of a Clown" (1970) (with the Miracles) and "Being with you" (1981)

7. "Sugar" Ray , real name Walker Smith . 1921–89, US boxer, winner of the world middleweight championship on five separate occasions

---

Robinson Idioms  

1. see before you can say Jack Robinson.

---

Example Sentences

Alice Coltrane was born in Detroit, and was a product of the same environment that gave the world Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross and Berry Gordy, Jr., who was a neighbor.

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026

Johannes Høesflot Klæbo, the greatest winter Olympian, shared interesting tidbits about himself with sports editor Joshua Robinson.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

"I was concerned, I can only repay what I can afford," said Robinson, who is now back working as an NHS nurse.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

This week, Robinson received an email from the university, which the BBC has seen, saying the SLC had recently decided the course didn't qualify for maintenance loans.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

After the singing ended, Pastor Robinson strutted onto the stage.

From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas