robust

adjective

ro·​bust rō-ˈbəst 

ˈrō-(ˌ)bəst

1

a

: having or exhibiting strength or vigorous health

a robust infant

robust plants/animals

He was a robust man, white-haired, with the brick-red face of one who works outside …

—Nicholas Bromell

b

: having or showing vigor, strength, or firmness

a robust debate

a robust economy

robust beliefs/faith/skepticism

c

: strongly formed or constructed : sturdy

a robust plastic

robust furniture

This area of the heat shield has been made more robust.

—Eric Berger

d

: capable of performing without failure under a wide range of conditions

robust software

… most public cloud providers have robust physical and electronic security in place.

—Alex Meehan and Aoife Valentine

2

dated : rough, rude

3

: requiring strength or vigor

robust work

4

: having a rich, strong flavor : full-bodied

robust coffee/wine

Though the flavor is robust, the texture is light and melts in the mouth.

—Bahar Anoonshahr

Some olive oils are robust and peppery; some are bright and fruity; some are mild and buttery.

—Nicole Papantoniou and Samantha MacAvoy

also : hearty

a robust dinner/meal/stew

5

: relating to, resembling, or being a specialized group of australopithecines characterized especially by heavy molars and small incisors adapted to a vegetarian diet

Note: Robust australopithecines are included in the genus Australopithecus along with gracile forms or placed in the separate genus Paranthropus.

compare gracile sense 3

robustly adverb

robustness

rō-ˈbəs(t)-nəs 

ˈrō-(ˌ)bəs(t)-

noun

Synonyms of robust

• healthy
• sturdy
• well
• strong

Choose the Right Synonym for robust

healthy, sound, wholesome, robust, hale, well mean enjoying or indicative of good health.

healthy implies full strength and vigor as well as freedom from signs of disease.

a healthy family

sound emphasizes the absence of disease, weakness, or malfunction.

a sound heart

wholesome implies appearance and behavior indicating soundness and balance.

a face with a wholesome glow

robust implies the opposite of all that is delicate or sickly.

a lively, robust little boy

hale applies particularly to robustness in old age.

still hale at the age of eighty

well implies merely freedom from disease or illness.

she has never been a well person

Examples of robust in a Sentence

If Singapore, just seven miles to the north with its glittering skyline and robust economy, is Southeast Asia's Cinderella, Batam is her dark sister. —Peter Gwin, National Geographic, October 2007

The greatest gains in mine mechanization came in a burst of innovation following World War II, when robust new machines were developed … —Robert L. Marovelli, Scientific American, September 1982

Humfry was a man whom everyone noticed. His stature was above ordinary, his complexion sanguine, his conversation lively, and his constitution robust. —Samuel Eliot Morison, The European Discovery of America, 1971

Why is almost every robust healthy boy with a robust healthy soul in him, at some time or other crazy to go to sea? —Herman Melville, Moby Dick, 1851

robust young men and women

He is in robust health.

The sauce has a robust flavor.

Recent Examples on the Web

Tasters couldn’t get enough of the robust chocolate notes in this contender, which were complemented by a strong vanilla flavor. —Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Dec. 2025

The town is also home to several gorgeous natural preserves, a vibrant historic downtown with a shockingly robust art scene, and plenty of write-home-about dining and lodging options. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 1 Dec. 2025

Zootopia 2 is expected to be around $34M, which is still robust. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 1 Dec. 2025

Achieving Joanna Gaines’ classic style is easier than ever thanks to her robust collection of home decor, area rugs, and furniture at Target. —Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 1 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin robustus oaken, strong, from robor-, robur oak, strength

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for robust

• adjust
• combust
• discussed
• disgust
• distrust
• entrust
• intrust
• mistrust
• nonplussed
• sawdust
• stardust
• unjust

Kids Definition

robust

adjective

ro·​bust rō-ˈbəst 

ˈrō-(ˌ)bəst

: being strong and vigorously healthy

robustly adverb

robustness

-ˈbəs(t)-nəs 

-(ˌ)bəs(t)-

noun