Technology

Robot

Before robots were gadgets, they were a labor anxiety.

Origin story

Popularized by Karel Capek's 1920 play R.U.R., from robota, forced labor or drudgery.

Before robots were gadgets, they were a labor anxiety.

Quick answer

A short etymology card for robot: origin, meaning history, memorable hook, and source-language context.

Source-first Reviewed Jul 2026

Cite this page

Use this page as a public web reference, not an official agency record. The linked official source remains the final authority.

Word Origin Atlas. "Robot Origin and Meaning | Word Origin Atlas". https://www.wordoriginatlas.com/words/robot/. Reviewed Jul 2026.