Machine vs Robot

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Machine

Top 1,000 (very common) A1 noun

Robot

Top 1,000 (very common) B1 noun

	Machine	Robot
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/məˈʃiːn/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/məˈʃiːn/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ˈrəʊbɒt/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈrəʊbɑːt/"]/
Meaning	A machine is a device that uses energy to do work or perform a task.	A machine that can do tasks automatically.
Example	The machine was broken, so we couldn't finish our work.	These cars are built by robots.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	A1	B1
Part of speech	noun	noun
Collocations	giant, great, huge, operate, run, use, go, work, break down, operator, parts, tool, by machine, in a/​the machine, on a/​the machine, a make of machine, party, political, marketing, politician, politics, a cog in the machine, a well-oiled machine	robotic arm, industrial robot, service robot, mobile robot, robot technology
Antonyms	human, organism	human, organic
Common mistakes	Confusing 'machine' with 'mechanism'—a mechanism is a part of a machine., Using 'machine' to refer to non-mechanical items like software., Overgeneralizing 'machine' to include tools that don't use power.	Confused with 'robotic' which describes something similar but is an adjective., Using 'robot' as a verb (e.g., 'to robot')., Mispronouncing the word — stress is on the first syllable: 'RO-bot'.
Usage notes	Use 'machine' for mechanical devices like cars or computers. Avoid using it for living beings or to describe simple tools.	The term 'robot' can refer to various types of machines, from simple programmable devices to advanced artificial intelligence. It's suitable for both informal and formal contexts, but avoid using it in situations where the mechanical aspect is not relevant.

See it in real clips

Yeah. Like the one he gave to take this machine gun.

Peaky Blinders › S1 E1

left in the telegraph machine.

My sewing machine is in there, but there's plenty...

Yeah. Like the one he gave to take this machine gun.

Peaky Blinders › S1 E1

left in the telegraph machine.

Machine

Frequently asked questions: Machine vs Robot

What's the difference between Machine and Robot?

Machine: A machine is a device that uses energy to do work or perform a task. Robot: A machine that can do tasks automatically.

Which is more advanced: Machine and Robot?

Robot is the highest level, at B1, on the CEFR scale.

Are Machine and Robot the same CEFR level?

Machine: A1, Robot: B1 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Machine and Robot?

Machine: noun, Robot: noun.

Can you show an example of each?

Machine: The machine was broken, so we couldn't finish our work. Robot: These cars are built by robots.

Can I use Machine and Robot interchangeably?

Not always. Machine and Robot are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.