robust

Robust is an adjective used to describe something that is strong, sturdy, and able to operate or remain functional under adverse conditions. The word traces to Latin robustus, but in contemporary usage it emphasizes resilience to variability and disturbances rather than merely physical strength.

In engineering and applied sciences, robustness denotes performance that holds under a range of conditions. Robust design minimizes sensitivity to manufacturing variation and environmental change. Robust control aims to maintain stability and performance despite model uncertainty and disturbances. Robust statistics describe methods that remain effective in the presence of outliers or model deviations. Robust optimization studies decisions that stay feasible under uncertainty.

In computing and software, robustness refers to systems that fail gracefully, handle unexpected inputs, and recover quickly from errors. This often involves fault tolerance, input validation, and defensive programming.

In biology and ecology, robustness characterizes the ability of a system to maintain functions amid perturbations, such as genetic variation or environmental stress. Redundancy, modularity, and feedback mechanisms often contribute to robustness.

Usage varies by field, but robustness generally denotes durability, reliability, and resilience. In everyday language, a robust person or device is seen as capable and dependable.