use case

American  

[yoos keys] / ˈyus ˌkeɪs /

noun

1. a scenario in which something is or may be useful; a particular situation in which something, especially a technology, is tested or employed.

   The pharmaceutical database offers filters for a variety of use cases, such as prescribing, pricing, and dispensing medication.

   The new feature works, but we would anticipate better performance in a real-world use case.

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Etymology

Origin of use case

First recorded in 1990–95

Example Sentences

It just comes down to your use case and perhaps budget.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026

For example, Wignall relayed a story of a college student who was testing a use case where a claw recommended jobs she could apply for.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

He said that bitcoin was originally intended to be a currency, and its adoption by financial institutions and nations points to its use case as a store of value.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 7, 2026

Elsewhere, Michael Burry—the “Big Short” investor credited with predicting the 2008-09 financial crisis—warned on Substack on Monday that “there is no organic use case reason for Bitcoin to slow or stop its descent.”

From Barron's • Feb. 5, 2026

In the near term, the most likely use case for the tool is to prototype new game ideas, rather than to build complete games from prompts, the firm argued.

From Barron's • Feb. 2, 2026