Digital Technology. a software application, often a small, specialized program for mobile devices.
You’ll find numerous free photo editing apps in the app store on your smartphone.
The word processing app that comes with the laptop isn’t adequate for our publishing needs.
an application; a form to be filled out by an applicant.
I'm working on my college apps.
apparatus.
apparent.
appendix.
applied.
appointed.
approved.
approximate.
First recorded in 1985–90; shortening of application ( def. )
By shortening
An app is a program that's designed to be used on your computer, tablet, or mobile phone. If you don't have a weather app, how will you know whether or not to bring your raincoat? App is short for application. You can use it for any kind of computer application (like word processing or spreadsheets), but it usually refers to smartphones. If you have one, you've also got apps, for things like maps, banking, entertainment, to-do lists, and photo editing. Every so often, you'll also hear someone use app as shorthand for a restaurant appetizer: "I'd like to order some apps for the table, when you have a sec!"
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Police Department received word of the incident via a call from Life360, a family safety and location-sharing app with emergency assistance features.
From Los Angeles Times • May 9, 2026
Lime vehicles are also featured prominently on Uber’s app.
From MarketWatch • May 8, 2026
By integrating DraftKings Predictions into the firm’s primary app, “Predictions customer acquisition cost declined more than 80% in April,” Robins wrote.
From Barron's • May 7, 2026
OpenAI’s app developer terms don’t guarantee discoverability, but the company said it is experimenting with ways to surface apps more directly within conversations, without explicit invocation.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026
She tried her fire tracker app again, but it still wasn’t updating.
From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
