robot
Americannoun
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robots
plural
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a machine that resembles a human and does mechanical, routine tasks on command.
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a person who acts and responds in a mechanical, routine manner, usually subject to another's will; automaton.
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any machine or mechanical device that operates automatically with humanlike skill.
adjective
noun
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any automated machine programmed to perform specific mechanical functions in the manner of a man
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(modifier) not controlled by man; automatic
a robot pilot
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a person who works or behaves like a machine; automaton
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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
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Engineering - Middle School
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Engineering - High School
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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:
A robot that impresses in a demonstration still has to work reliably for enough hours to justify its price and upkeep.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026
Data centers are spending millions on high-tech security, from facial recognition and drones to robot dogs.
From Barron's ● Oct. 6, 2026
Stewart is a new Green Lantern recruit, but when an investigation into the whereabouts of a killer alien robot on the run goes awry, they go their separate ways.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 5, 2026
Central to that effort is its new Alfie robot, which the company says can learn from its mistakes and correct them in real time.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
The robot suddenly kicked her legs and launched herself up out of the water.
From "The Wild Robot Protects" by Peter Brown
The miniature robots that shuttle goods break down too often.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
The robots can be thwarted by something as simple as dust buildup, and stoppages can create a cascade of other problems, said some of the people familiar with the situation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
His employer rents out the robots for events such as OpenAI’s conference.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
The result is welcome news for a company spending heavily on robotaxis and humanoid robots, because car sales help fund those bets.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026
No people walking, no robots working, no automobiles driving.
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.
