robust
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
strong and healthy in a physical way.
possessing or showing physical strength and good health.
Simple“He remained robust well into his eighties, still walking several miles every morning.”
In context“The study followed a group of robust centenarians to determine which lifestyle factors contributed most to their enduring physical vitality.”
UsageOften used to describe elderly people who remain surprisingly active.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
strong enough to work well even in difficult conditions.
capable of withstanding adverse conditions or rough handling without failing.
Simple“The hikers needed robust boots that could handle the rocky mountain paths.”
In context“The equipment was designed to be robust enough for use in extreme arctic temperatures where standard electronics often fail.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
strong and effective, like a plan, an economy, or an argument.
strong and unlikely to be challenged or weakened; showing vigor and effectiveness.
Simple“The company reported robust sales growth despite the difficult economy.”
In context“The researcher presented a robust defense of her theory, citing several peer-reviewed studies that supported her initial findings.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
describes a computer program or system that does not crash easily.
able to continue functioning despite errors, unexpected input, or partial failure.
Simple“We need a more robust system to handle the high volume of traffic on our website.”
In context“The software architecture is remarkably robust, maintaining core functionality even when several external API dependencies are unavailable.”
- 05 C2 Proficiency
describes a result that stays accurate even if some data is slightly wrong.
yielding valid results even when the underlying assumptions of a statistical model are violated.
Simple“The findings are robust across different groups of people.”
In context“The statistical test is robust to non-normality, making it a reliable choice for analyzing this specific dataset.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 06 C2 Proficiency
used as a polite way to say someone is a bit loud, rough, or lacks manners.
used euphemistically to describe behavior that is coarse, blunt, or lacking in refinement.
Simple“He has a rather robust sense of humor that not everyone appreciates.”
In context“The debate was characterized by a robust exchange of views that occasionally bordered on the personal.”
Usage robust evidence · robust evidence functional · robust fundamental
“The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said growth had "remained relatively robust", with the UK ahead of other G7 countries for growth this year so far.”
“This can feel like a loss when compared with other fighting games with robust solo options, including other Arc System Works efforts.”
Learned borrowing from Latin rōbustus.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.