Third Law of Robotics

proper noun

One of the Three Laws of Robotics, requiring a robot to protect its own existence, as long as this does not conflict with the First Law (which forbids a robot to harm a human) or the Second Law (which requires robots to obey humans).

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Meanings

proper noun
  1. computingOne of the Three Laws of Robotics, requiring a robot to protect its own existence, as long as this does not conflict with the First Law (which forbids a robot to harm a human) or the Second Law (which requires robots to obey humans).

Origin

Coined by Isaac Asimov

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Third Law of Robotics. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Third%20Law%20of%20Robotics

MLA

“Third Law of Robotics.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Third%20Law%20of%20Robotics. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Third Law of Robotics,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Third%20Law%20of%20Robotics.

Source: Third Law of Robotics on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.