noun
Common
android
AN-droyd
Android (noun) means a robot built to look and move like a human. Example: “The film features an android that can pass for a real person.”
noun
1
A robot built to look and move like a human.
"The film features an android that can pass for a real person."
"In the story, the lonely inventor builds an android to keep him company."
"The android blinked, smiled and shook the visitor's hand like any polite person."
name
1
Android, a mobile operating system developed by Google, used on many smartphones and tablets.
"She switched from an iPhone to an Android phone last year."
"SL4A brings scripting languages to Android by allowing developers to edit and execute scripts and interactive interpreters directly on the Android device, according to Google Labs."
— , PHP development comes to Google Android (2010)
How to use android
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a humanlike robot in fiction, or the Google-made operating system that competes with Apple's iOS.
Common pairings
android phone
android app
humanoid android
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Word forms
- Plural
- androids
- Comparative
- more android
- Superlative
- most android
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The film features an _____ that can pass for a real person.
Etymology
From New Latin androides, built from Greek andros ("man") plus a suffix meaning "form" or "shape" — literally "man-shaped."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for android
See all rhymes for android →Frequently asked questions
What does “android” mean?
The word “android” means a robot built to look and move like a human. In plain terms, either a humanlike robot in fiction, or the Google-made operating system that competes with Apple's iOS.
How do you pronounce “android”?
“Android” is pronounced AN-droyd (/ˈænˌdɹɔɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “android” in a sentence?
Here is “android” used in a sentence: “The film features an android that can pass for a real person.”
What part of speech is “android”?
Depending on how it is used, “android” can be a noun and a name.
Where does the word “android” come from?
The word “android” comes from New Latin. From New Latin androides, built from Greek andros ("man") plus a suffix meaning "form" or "shape" — literally "man-shaped.".
Is “android” a common word?
“Android” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “android” have?
“Android” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a robot built to look and move like a human.
What is the difference between an android and a robot?
'Robot' is the broad term for any machine that can carry out tasks automatically, and most robots look nothing like people. An android is a specific type of robot deliberately built to resemble a human in appearance and movement. So every android is a robot, but very few robots are androids.
What is the difference between an android and a droid?
'Android' is the precise term for a robot made to look and move like a human. 'Droid' is an informal, shortened word for robot popularised by science fiction, especially Star Wars, and it doesn't imply a human form. A droid can be any shape, while an android is specifically humanlike.
What is the difference between an android and a cyborg?
An android is entirely artificial, a machine designed to look human. A cyborg, by contrast, is part living organism and part machine, such as a person fitted with mechanical or electronic body parts. The key difference is that androids are fully built, whereas cyborgs begin as living beings.
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