robustness
roh-BUST-ness
/rəʊˈbʌstnəs/
The quality or condition of being strong and in good condition; the ability to withstand or overcome adverse conditions.
Robustness is about 'not breaking' in the first place. A robust bridge doesn't fall; a resilient bridge might sway but returns to normal.
The story behind the word. Derived from the Latin 'robur', which means 'oak tree' or 'hardwood'. To be robust is to be as strong as an oak. It originally described physical health but moved into engineering and systems to describe anything that can take a hit without failing.
Word relationships
- sturdiness: Physical strength and solid construction.
- durability: The ability to withstand wear, pressure, or damage over a long period.
- frailty: The condition of being weak and delicate.
- flimsiness: Lacking strength and solidity; easily damaged.
Commonly confused with
- resilience: Robustness is 'resistance to failure'; resilience is 'recovery from failure'.
Word family
- robust (adjective): Strong and healthy; vigorous.
- robustly (adverb): In a strong and healthy way.
Collocations
- system robustness
- structural robustness
- robustness check
- operational robustness
Example sentences
- "The robustness of the design ensured that the building remained standing even after the magnitude 7 earthquake." Engineering
- "The robustness of a statistical test is its ability to remain valid even when its assumptions are violated." Statistics
Memory hook
Think of a 'Robot': it is 'robust' because it is made of metal and doesn't get tired or break easily. Robustness is the strength of an 'oak'.
When not to use
Don't use it for things that are meant to be flexible; robustness implies a certain rigid strength.
Fun facts
- In wine tasting, a 'robust' wine is one that is full-bodied and high in alcohol.
- The 'Robustness Principle' in computer networking (Postel's Law) says: 'Be conservative in what you do, be liberal in what you accept from others.'
Related words
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