Suffix -IC is a vowel suffix that means “related to”.  “Robotic” is related to the base word,  “robot.”

Suffix /ĭk/, Suffix /ĭk/, Suffix, /ĭk/, robotic

Like many other suffixes, Suffix -IC often does not have an obvious base or root word.  

When this happens, we can explore other related words. If you can’t think of any, your Instructor can help you explore the etymology. 

“Etymology” is the study of words, their origins, and how their meanings have changed throughout their use. 

For example, “civic” does not have an obvious base or root word.  However, we can think of related words, such as “civil”, “civilian”,  and “civilization”.  Each of these words come from the Latin “civicus” which means “relating to a citizen.”