Word
robotic
Phoneticsro·botic
US/ˌɹoʊˈbɑtɪk/
UK/ɹəʊbˈɒtɪk/
Definition
adj. acting like a robot — stiff, unemotional, or very precise. You use this to describe someone who seems cold or mechanical.
adj. resembling a robot in movement, behavior, or lack of emotion; characterized by mechanical precision or rigidity.
Examples
“His robotic voice made the announcement sound boring.”
“The customer service agent gave a robotic response that failed to address my specific complaint.”
“The dancer's robotic movements contrasted sharply with the fluid grace of her partner, creating a striking visual tension on stage.”
Examples
simple
“His robotic voice made the announcement sound boring.”
contextual
“The customer service agent gave a robotic response that failed to address my specific complaint.”
complex
“The dancer's robotic movements contrasted sharply with the fluid grace of her partner, creating a striking visual tension on stage.”
Real-World Examples
“Computers began speaking by putting together phonemes in the 1960s, creating stiff, robotic speech.” “A robotic voice tells me to stay still and close my eyes as I stand in a huge curved scanner while classical music plays in the background.” Etymology
From robot + -ic. Coined by American science fiction author Isaac Asimov in 1941 in his short story Liar!.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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