robust

adjective

ro·​bust rō-ˈbəst How to pronounce robust (audio)
ˈrō-(ˌ)bəst
1
a
: having or exhibiting strength or vigorous health
b
: having or showing vigor, strength, or firmness
a robust debate
a robust faith
c
: strongly formed or constructed : sturdy
a robust plastic
d
: capable of performing without failure under a wide range of conditions
robust software
2
: rough, rude
stories … laden with robust, down-home imageryPlayboy
3
: requiring strength or vigor
robust work
4
: full-bodied
robust coffee
also : hearty
a robust dinner
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 How to pronounce robust (audio)
ˈrō-(ˌ)bəs(t)-
noun
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That the test machines in the ballroom were 16-inch laptops (the largest mainstream size, allowing for more robust fan hardware and heatpipes/heatsinks), equipped with a generous 48GB of memory, naturally favors putting the chip’s best foot forward. Wendy Sheehan Donnell, PC Magazine, 29 Sep. 2025 Activities and Experiences The resort offers a robust daily schedule of activities and exercise sessions. Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 28 Sep. 2025 The robust programming helped BIFF achieve its highest attendance in recent years, reinforcing the festival’s position as a crucial launchpad for Asian cinema even as the Korean industry grapples with unprecedented challenges. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 Sep. 2025 Meanwhile, job growth hasn’t been as robust as other indicators have been, casting gloom over the housing market. Preston Fore, Fortune, 27 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for robust

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of robust was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Robust.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/robust. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

robust

adjective
ro·​bust rō-ˈbəst How to pronounce robust (audio)
ˈrō-(ˌ)bəst
: being strong and vigorously healthy
robustly adverb
robustness
-ˈbəs(t)-nəs How to pronounce robust (audio)
-(ˌ)bəs(t)-
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on robust

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