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

Derived Forms

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

Both imports from China and robot adoption had fairly negative displacement effects that were long-lasting, because they were sudden and the jobs they impacted were concentrated in certain local labor markets.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026

Adding to the futuristic feel, a robot bartender takes center stage pouring drinks.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026

Getting a robot to jump through a window of unknown height, land on uneven ground, and immediately navigate an unfamiliar interior is hard.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

But other legged robot companies have drawn a line opposing weaponisation, citing risks of harm and ethical issues.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

Four operators steered the Manbo remotely, gathering critical information about the state of the reactor, until the robot finally found what it was looking for: the unit 3 reactor vessel.

From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland