What does robust mean?
Robust describes something that is strong, sound, and able to withstand strain, damage, or difficult conditions. It can refer to a sturdy physical object, a person with a healthy constitution, or a system that continues functioning despite errors or unexpected inputs. In technical and scientific contexts, a robust method or analysis is one whose conclusions do not depend on narrow assumptions or a single fragile set of conditions. The word can also mean forceful and emphatic, as in a robust argument or defense. Its reassuringly practical meaning is what makes robust especially useful: it suggests not merely that something is strong in ideal circumstances, but that it will continue to work when tested, challenged, or placed under pressure.
adjectiveStrong, sound, and capable of withstanding strain, damage, or difficult conditions. In technical contexts, it also means resistant to errors, unusual inputs, or changes.
- Strong and well-built, able to withstand use, strain, or difficult conditions.
- Healthy, vigorous, and able to withstand illness, hardship, or adverse circumstances.
- Based on sound reasoning, evidence, or methods, and therefore not easily affected by errors, outliers, or changes.
- Forceful, emphatic, and difficult to ignore, especially in reference to arguments or claims.
"The engineers designed the system to remain robust even when large amounts of data are missing or arrive unexpectedly."
"The old bridge remained surprisingly robust despite years of heavy traffic and severe weather."
"A robust analysis should identify the assumptions that could affect its conclusions."
Robust has a wonderfully literal origin: Latin robustus was connected with robus, meaning “oak” or “hard wood,” so its strength was associated with something tough and enduring.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of robust
English adopted robust in the 17th century from French robuste, ultimately from Latin robustus. The Latin word was connected with robus, meaning “hard, strong, oak,” so its original associations were with physical toughness and vitality. Over time, the word broadened from physical strength to the ability of methods, arguments, and systems to withstand difficulty, variation, or error. Corroborate and related forms belong to the same Latin root, through corroborare, meaning “to strengthen” or “to support.”
Related word forms
How robust is actually used
Robust is widely used in formal, technical, and business contexts. It can suggest dependable strength, but in statistical and scientific writing it usually emphasizes resistance to errors, unusual data, or changes in conditions.