robust

robust — adjective

1. Any living thing — person or animal — that is robust has excellent physical cond

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

Any living thing — person or animal — that is robust has excellent physical condition, with a strong body that can handle hard work without tiring easily and rarely falls ill.

Example

Even at eighty-two, Ife remained robust and walked five kilometres every morning before breakfast.

collocation: remain + robust

The ranch used robust horses that could pull heavy carts through muddy fields all day.

attributive: robust + animals

Common collocations
  • robust health
  • robust physique
  • robust constitution
  • robust immune system
  • remain robust
Synonyms
  • strong

    more general; works for physical, mental, or structural strength

  • healthy

    broader — can mean simply free from illness, not necessarily vigorous

  • sturdy

    focuses on build and solidity rather than overall health

Antonyms
  • frail

    describes a person who is physically weak and delicate

  • weak

    general opposite; lacks strength in any sense

Grammar Patterns

robust + noun

be + robust

Common Mistakes

My grandmother is very robust' (when meaning mentally strong).
My grandmother is very resilient.
'robust' primarily describes physical health and strength, not emotional toughness.

2. An object, system, or machine that is robust is built or designed in a way that

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

An object, system, or machine that is robust is built or designed in a way that makes it strong and able to keep working well even when used heavily, handled roughly, or placed under difficult conditions.

Example

Tomás built a robust network that handled fifty thousand users logging in at once.

attributive: robust + technical system

Aylin bought a robust suitcase that survived five years of airline use without cracking.

Common collocations
  • robust economy
  • robust system
  • robust design
  • robust software
  • robust network
Synonyms
  • sturdy

    more common for physical objects; implies solid construction

  • durable

    focuses on lasting a long time without wearing out

  • rugged

    suggests resistance to rough handling or harsh environments

  • resilient

    emphasises the ability to recover quickly from problems

Antonyms
  • fragile

    easily broken or damaged

  • flimsy

    weakly made; likely to break under light use

  • vulnerable

    open to damage or failure

Grammar Patterns

robust + noun

be + robust

Common Mistakes

This table is very robust' (when meaning simply 'strong').
This table is very sturdy / well-built.
'robust' implies the ability to withstand stress or heavy use over time, not just basic strength.

3. Food or drink that is robust offers a flavour that is deep, strong, and fills th

3.adjectiveC1
Definition

Food or drink that is robust offers a flavour that is deep, strong, and fills the mouth in a satisfying way — the taste is immediately noticeable and often lingers.

Example

Linh served a robust red wine that tasted of blackberries and dark spices.

collocation: robust wine

This robust coffee comes from high-altitude farms in Guatemala and has a chocolaty finish.

Common collocations
  • robust flavour
  • robust wine
  • robust coffee
  • robust taste
  • robust sauce
Synonyms
  • full-bodied

    very close in meaning; common for wine, coffee, beer

  • rich

    broader — can also describe creamy, fatty, or sweet richness

  • hearty

    used for food that is satisfying and substantial

Antonyms
  • mild

    gentle flavour; the opposite of strong or intense

  • light

    delicate, not heavy on the palate

  • thin

    watery or lacking depth of flavour

Grammar Patterns

robust + food/drink noun

Common Mistakes

This soup tastes robust' (when the speaker simply means 'good' or 'flavourful').
This soup has a robust flavour.
'robust' is typically used attributively (before the noun) with flavour/food/drink terms, not predicatively.

4. Behaviour, humour, or language that is robust is direct and rough in a way that

4.adjectiveC1
Definition

Behaviour, humour, or language that is robust is direct and rough in a way that some people consider rude, unrefined, or lacking in politeness.

Example

The comedian's robust humour made young people laugh, but older audience members looked uncomfortable.

collocation: robust humour

Sivan's robust way of speaking shocked new colleagues used to more careful phrasing.

Common collocations
  • robust humour
  • robust language
  • robust manner
  • robust joke
Synonyms
  • coarse

    stronger negative connotation; suggests vulgarity

  • crude

    implies lack of polish or subtlety

  • rough

    more general; can be neutral or negative depending on context

Antonyms
  • refined

    polished and elegant in manner or expression

  • polite

    showing good manners and consideration for others

Grammar Patterns

robust + noun (humour, language, manner)

Usage Note

This sense is less common than senses 1–3 and carries a mildly negative connotation — it suggests coarseness rather than just directness. Use with care in formal contexts. It is often applied to intentionally rough or earthy humour (e.g. robust jokes) rather than to genuinely insulting behaviour.

Common Mistakes

He gave a robust speech at the conference' (intending 'confident' or 'forceful').
He gave a forceful / confident speech.
'robust' in this sense implies roughness or lack of refinement, not confident energy.

Word family

  • robustly
    adverbB2
  • robustness
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All five words relate to strength or good condition, but each highlights a different aspect. 'Strong' is the broadest term — it can describe physical power, mental toughness, or even structural solidity. 'Healthy' focuses on freedom from illness rather than active vigour; you can be healthy without being robust. 'Sturdy' emphasises solid build and resistance to pressure — a sturdy chair may not be robust in the sense of overall health. 'Resilient' adds the idea of bouncing back from difficulty or damage. 'Robust' combines strength with vitality: a robust person is not merely strong and healthy but also energetic and hardy. For example: 'After chemotherapy she is healthy again, but not yet robust enough for marathon training.'

robust ↗strong ↗healthy ↗sturdyresilient ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • extremely robust
  • remarkably robust
  • physically robust

Phrases

  • robust enough to + verb

Etymology

LatinEnglish

The word 'robust' comes from Latin 'robustus', meaning 'made of oak' or 'firm and strong'. In ancient Rome, the oak tree (robur) was a symbol of hardness and durability — soldiers were praised as 'robustus' for being as tough as oak. The word entered English in the mid-1500s with the meaning 'strong and healthy'. By the 1800s, it had been extended to describe things (a robust system) and flavours (robust coffee). The 'rough and crude' sense appeared in the early 1900s, possibly influenced by the idea that something strong can also be unrefined.