robot

American  

[roh-bot] / ˈroʊ bɒt /

noun

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

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

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

“The things to make a robot are remarkably similar to a car,” said Scaringe, who serves as chairman of Mind Robotics.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026

Last September, Google launched an app that allows users to create personalised versions of the robot.

From BBC • May 13, 2026

As days passed, traders who bet on the deal worried the tip might be bad because Amazon didn’t announce a purchase of the maker of robot vacuums.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026

Tesla is also expected to unveil the third generation of its AI-trained humanoid robot, Optimus, later this year.

From Barron's • May 12, 2026

All the harm done to the ocean wilderness had started right there, by that deep-sea mining robot.

From "The Wild Robot Protects" by Peter Brown