Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Full of health and strength; vigorous. synonym: healthy.
  • adjective Powerfully built; sturdy.
  • adjective Requiring or characterized by much strength or energy.
  • adjective Active or dynamic.
  • adjective Working in an effective way; effective or productive.
  • adjective Marked by richness and fullness; full-bodied.
  • adjective Substantial in amount.
  • adjective Rough or crude; coarse.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Having or indicating great strength; strong; lusty; sinewy; muscular; sound; vigorous: as, a robust body; robust youth; robust health.
  • Violent; rough; rude.
  • Requiring vigor or strength: as, robust employment.
  • In zoology, stout; thick: as, a robust joint; robust antennæ.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Evincing strength; indicating vigorous health; strong; sinewy; muscular; vigorous; sound.
  • adjective Violent; rough; rude.
  • adjective Requiring strength or vigor.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Evincing strength; indicating vigorous health; strong; sinewy; muscular; vigorous; sound; as, a robust body; robust youth; robust health.
  • adjective Violent; rough; rude.
  • adjective Requiring strength or vigor; as, robust employment.
  • adjective Sensible (of intellect etc.); straightforward, not given to or confused by uncertainty or subtlety;
  • adjective systems engineering Designed or evolved in such a way as to be resistant to total failure despite partial damage.
  • adjective software engineering Resistant or impervious to failure regardless of user input or unexpected conditions.
  • adjective statistics Not greatly influenced by errors in assumptions about the distribution of sample errors.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective marked by richness and fullness of flavor
  • adjective rough and crude
  • adjective strong enough to withstand or overcome intellectual challenges or adversity
  • adjective sturdy and strong in form, constitution, or construction

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Latin rōbustus, from rōbur, rōbus, oak, strength; see reudh- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin rōbustus, from rōbur, rōbus ("strength", "hard timber", "oak").

Support

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Examples

  • WORDS ACCENTED ON THE LAST SYLLABLE: address _address'_ adept _adept'_ adult _adult'_ ally _ally'_ commandant _commandänt '(ä as in arm) _ contour _contour'_ dessert _dessert'_ dilate _dilate'_ excise _eksiz'_ finance _finance'_ grimace _grimace'_ importune _importune'_ occult _occult'_ pretence _pretence'_ research _research'_ robust _robust'_ romance _romance'_ tirade _tirade'_

    Practical Grammar and Composition Thomas Wood

  • She said she remains satisfied with what she termed their "robust" commitment to democracy and broad engagement with Libyans from across the political spectrum.

    Clinton: No Decision to Arm Libyan Rebels 2011

  • She said she remains satisfied with what she termed their "robust" commitment to democracy and broad engagement with Libyans from across the political spectrum.

    Clinton: No Decision to Arm Libyan Rebels 2011

  • Chris Christie and the mayors of Trenton and Newark last month in what she called a "robust discussion to be creative in an era of shrinking resources."

    Camden, N.J., to rehire 50 police, 15 firefighters 2011

  • When I hear the phrase "going forward" or the word "robust" from a management type, I start to fear I may be in the presence of a David Brent.

    Dave Ellis an Englishman excelling for France at the Rugby World Cup | Richard Williams 2011

  • She said she remains satisfied with what she termed their "robust" commitment to democracy and broad engagement with Libyans from across the political spectrum.

    Clinton: No Decision to Arm Libyan Rebels 2011

  • SCHIAVONE: Lou, President Bush acknowledged Law Day with a proclamation, affirming the nation's commitment to what he called a robust system of ordered liberty -- Lou.

    CNN Transcript May 1, 2008 2008

  • But certainly, we're prepared to use what we call robust actions.

    CNN Transcript Dec 6, 2008 2008

  • HENRY: Now, the secretary said that there would need to be what she called a robust international peacekeeping force at some point on the ground in Lebanon, but she also said she does not anticipate that there while be U.S. boots on the ground needed in that peacekeeping effort.

    CNN Transcript Jul 21, 2006 2006

  • They expect to have what they call a robust force that's prepared for anything -- Anderson.

    CNN Transcript Mar 29, 2003 2003

Comments

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  • I made the apparent mistake of using this word in a book proposal ("a robust guide to...) a few months ago. Since then, my supervisor has used it approximately 53,435 times to describe everything from a book contract to the weather for the upcoming weekend.

    Next time, I'll just say "nice." :-\

    June 18, 2009

  • Ha ha! Then see how many times your supervisor uses it! While you're at it, slip in a really good one, like from Dr. Gooddude's list!

    June 18, 2009

  • I've been trying to come up with a new one to change things up a bit. Maybe I'll use a Goodduder. :-)

    June 18, 2009

  • Right, as in, "I'd like you to draw up an effervescent contract with that ebullient author, Mr. Reesetee!"

    June 18, 2009

  • Ha!

    June 19, 2009

  • I had an email today asking me if I would like to be a Santa for an electronic goods and homewares retailer:

    "Type: Unfortunately, as we are dealing with Harvey Norman, Santa needs to be the typical white variety. Ideally a robust built person no younger than 45yrs up to 65 yrs who can carry off the 'jolly old st nick' stereotype."

    - private communication, 1 September 2009.

    September 1, 2009

  • So...he has to be "nice." ;-)

    September 1, 2009