android: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, technical, literary, science fiction
Quick answer
What does “android” mean?
A robot or artificial being designed to look and behave like a human, often with a male or gender-neutral appearance.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A robot or artificial being designed to look and behave like a human, often with a male or gender-neutral appearance.
Any humanoid robot; also, a mobile operating system developed by Google (Android). In science fiction, a sentient artificial human.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The capitalised 'Android' for the OS is universal.
Connotations
Identical. Both associate the word with technology, robotics, and science fiction.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties, driven by global tech discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “android” in a Sentence
the Android [operating system]an android [designed for service]an android [with human features]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “android” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Not standard; word is almost exclusively a noun.)
American English
- (Not standard; word is almost exclusively a noun.)
adverb
British English
- (Not used as an adverb.)
American English
- (Not used as an adverb.)
adjective
British English
- (Rare, and often part of a compound) The android assistant was remarkably lifelike.
- (Capitalised for OS) The Android ecosystem is vast.
American English
- (Rare) He studied android design principles.
- (Capitalised for OS) She develops Android applications.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers primarily to the Android OS platform and its ecosystem: 'Our app targets the Android market.'
Academic
Used in robotics, AI, and science fiction studies: 'The essay examines the android as a literary trope.'
Everyday
Almost exclusively refers to smartphones/tablets not made by Apple: 'I prefer Android to iPhone.'
Technical
In robotics: a humanoid robot. In computing: the open-source OS by Google.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “android”
- Using 'android' as a general term for any robot (it must be humanoid).
- Pronouncing it /ˈændrəd/ instead of /ˈænˌdrɔɪd/ (the 'oi' is key).
- Not capitalising 'Android' when referring specifically to the Google OS.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A robot is any automated machine. An android is a specific type of robot designed to resemble a human in appearance and movement.
No. Capitalise 'Android' only when it is a proper noun referring to the Google operating system (e.g., 'Android 14'). Use lowercase for the general term for a humanoid robot (e.g., 'a fictional android').
Technically, yes, though the term 'gynoid' is sometimes used for female-presenting humanoid robots. In general usage and science fiction, 'android' is often used as a gender-neutral term for any human-like automaton.
The name was chosen by its founder, Andy Rubin, who had a passion for robots. The original Android logo was a small, green robot, reinforcing the connection to the word's original meaning.
A robot or artificial being designed to look and behave like a human, often with a male or gender-neutral appearance.
Android is usually formal, technical, literary, science fiction in register.
Android: in British English it is pronounced /ˈandrɔɪd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈænˌdrɔɪd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not applicable for this term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
ANDROID sounds like 'AND man-OID' (man-like). Think of a robot designed to 'and' (add) human 'oid' (shape/form).
Conceptual Metaphor
THE HUMAN BODY IS A MACHINE / INTELLIGENCE IS SOFTWARE. An android is a machine mapped onto the human template.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'Android' MOST LIKELY be capitalised?