robustness: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Academic, Technical
Quick answer
What does “robustness” mean?
The quality or state of being strong, healthy, and able to withstand difficult conditions or stress.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The quality or state of being strong, healthy, and able to withstand difficult conditions or stress.
The ability of a system, process, or argument to perform well under a wide range of conditions, to resist failure, or to maintain effectiveness despite challenges, errors, or varying inputs.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is virtually identical in both varieties. Slight preference in British English for 'robustness' in policy/economic contexts; slightly more frequent in American English in computing/engineering contexts.
Connotations
Positive connotations of strength, reliability, and thoroughness. In UK policy discourse, can imply a no-nonsense, tough approach.
Frequency
Moderately high frequency in technical and business writing; lower frequency in everyday conversation.
Grammar
How to Use “robustness” in a Sentence
The robustness of [SYSTEM/METHOD] against [CHALLENGE][VERB: demonstrate/test/ensure] the robustness of [NOUN][ADJECTIVE] robustness to [NOUN]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “robustness” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The software update aims to robustify the network against attacks.
- We need to robustise our procedures.
American English
- The new protocol robustifies the data transmission.
- Engineers worked to robustize the design.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to the ability of a financial model, strategy, or market to withstand economic shocks.
Academic
Describes the reliability of research findings, statistical tests, or theoretical frameworks under various conditions.
Everyday
Less common. Might describe the sturdiness of a piece of furniture or a person's constitution.
Technical
Critical in engineering (structural robustness), computing (software robustness), and statistics (robustness of tests).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “robustness”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “robustness”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “robustness”
- Using 'robustness' to mean 'aggressiveness' (confusion with 'robust' as in 'robust debate').
- Misspelling as 'robustnes'.
- Using in contexts requiring 'complexity' or 'sophistication' instead of 'resilience'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. Reliability is about consistent performance under expected conditions. Robustness is about maintaining performance under *unexpected* or adverse conditions.
Yes, but it's formal. It typically refers to physical health or constitution (e.g., 'the robustness of the patients in the study'), not personality.
Engineering, Computer Science, Statistics, and Economics/Finance. It is a key technical term in these disciplines.
A 'fragile', 'weak', 'flawed', or 'easily dismantled' argument. One that fails under scrutiny.
The quality or state of being strong, healthy, and able to withstand difficult conditions or stress.
Robustness is usually formal, academic, technical in register.
Robustness: in British English it is pronounced /rəʊˈbʌst.nəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /roʊˈbʌst.nəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Built to last (related concept)”
- “Stand the test of time (related concept)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'robust' robot. The 'robot' inside 'robustness' reminds you it's about a machine-like strength and reliability that doesn't break down easily.
Conceptual Metaphor
STRENGTH IS ROBUSTNESS (A system/argument is a physical structure that must not crumble).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'robustness' LEAST likely to be used?