# Robinson

/ˈɹɑbənsən/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/robinson
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a surname

noun · CEFR A1

a common English family name that originally meant 'son of Robin'.

For teachers: a common English surname of patronymic origin, meaning 'son of Robin'.

- Jackie Robinson was the first African American to play in Major League Baseball.
- The historical records indicate that the Robinson family settled in this county during the late seventeenth century.

### 2. a first name

noun · CEFR B2

a male first name, though it is less common than the surname.

For teachers: a masculine given name, transferred from the surname.

- Robinson Crusoe is the main character in a famous adventure novel.
- While Robinson is traditionally a surname, it has seen occasional use as a given name in literary and historical contexts.

### 3. Cambridge college

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Informal

a short name for Robinson College at the University of Cambridge.

For teachers: a colloquial ellipsis referring specifically to Robinson College, a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.

- She is studying architecture at Robinson this year.
- After the lecture, the students walked back to Robinson to prepare for their evening supervision.

Usage: Typically used without the word 'college' in local academic contexts.

## Examples

- He lived like a Robinson on the island for ten years.
- After the plane crash, the survivor had to play the role of a modern Robinson to stay alive.
- The literary archetype of the Robinson explores themes of human resilience and the psychological toll of absolute social isolation in a state of nature.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.