Word
rugged
/ˈɹəɡəd/
Definitions
01uneven terrain
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. having a rough, uneven surface, especially with rocks and few plants.
adj. describing land or terrain that is broken, rocky, and difficult to travel across.
“The hikers struggled to cross the rugged landscape of the high mountains.”
“The rugged coastline of northern Scotland offers breathtaking views but presents significant challenges for those attempting to build permanent structures near the cliffs.”
02strong and tough
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. strong and able to handle difficult conditions or hard work.
adj. possessing qualities of physical strength, durability, and the ability to withstand hardship.
“You need a rugged pair of boots if you plan to go trekking in the jungle.”
“The expedition required rugged individuals who could endure weeks of isolation and extreme cold without complaint.”
03durable technology
C1 · Advanced Computing Technical
adj. designed to work reliably in very difficult or dirty environments.
adj. specifically engineered to operate in harsh environmental conditions, such as extreme temperatures, moisture, or high vibration.
“The construction crew used rugged tablets that wouldn't break if dropped in the mud.”
“The military specifies rugged hardware for field operations to ensure that communication remains stable despite the physical shocks of transport.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“In a huge and complex operation, rescuers worked non-stop after Luca Olmetto became trapped in the Gorroppeddu cave in the rugged Urzulei mountain range in central-eastern Sardinia on Sunday afternoon.” “The helicopter crashed in a rugged area in the foothills of Mount Ololokwe, a popular tourist destination in the country, local media reported.” Etymology
From Middle English rugged, roggyd, ruggyd, derived from Old Norse rǫgg (“tuft, shagginess”), equivalent to rug (“rough, woollen material”) + -ed. Compare Old Swedish ruggoter (“wrinkled”), Swedish rugga (“to roughen”), Swedish ruggig (“shaggy”), Icelandic rögg (“shagginess”), Old Norse raggaðr (“tufted”), dialectal Danish raggad (“shaggy”).
From rug + -ed.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/rugged