The adjective robust , which has been used since the 1500's, comes from the Latin robustus , meaning oaken , hard , strong . Requiring or suited to strength, vigor, or endurance Only robust plants can survive in alpine conditions.
Some people prefer robust coffee.
Its synonyms include hardy , strong , vigorous , sturdy , stalwart , stout , and healthy . Recently, people began to use robust to describe software and electrical systems that were reliable. Dictionary omissions not withstanding, because of its positive connotations, robust appears to be on its way to buzzword status in the scientific and technical community, with 269,278 sites found using the word in a recent Altavista search. It has specific meanings, however, and should not be used as a synonym for nice or good . Make sure that your readers are familiar with this term because they may not be able to look it up.