robust
UK[rəʊˈbʌst]US[roʊˈbʌst]
adj
strong and healthy; vigorous.
adj
(of an object, system, or organization) strong and unlikely to break or fail.
Morpheme Breakdown
robus
t
robus
strength
t
adjective suffix
Etymology
the word robust entered english in the mid-16th century, directly from latin 'robustus', which means 'oaken, hard, strong'. this latin term itself derives from 'robur', meaning 'oak tree' or 'hard timber', a word of proto-indo-european origin associated with strength and redness. the semantic journey is a clear metaphorical extension: from the literal hardness and durability of oak wood to describing physical health and vitality in people, and further to the resilience of systems or institutions. thus, the core logic of the word connects the fundamental strength of a material to abstract qualities of endurance and vigor.
Analysis
Structure: robus (strength) + t (adjective suffix)
robus: from latin 'robustus', meaning 'oaken, hard, strong'. t: a common adjectival suffix in latin, often retained in english borrowings.
Examples
despite his age, he remains remarkably robust and active.
the company's robust financial planning helped it survive the economic downturn.
this software is designed with a robust security framework to prevent attacks.