application

American  

[ap-li-kay-shuhn] / ˌæp lɪˈkeɪ ʃən /

noun

• applications
  plural

1. the act of putting to a special use or purpose.

   the application of common sense to a problem.

   Synonyms:

   utilization

2. the special use or purpose to which something is put.

   a technology having numerous applications never thought of by its inventors.

3. the quality of being usable for a particular purpose or in a special way; relevance.

   This has no application to the case.

   Synonyms:

   pertinence, aptitude

4. the act of requesting.

   Her application for assistance was, surprisingly, received favorably by the members of the assembly.

   Synonyms:

   petition, suit, soliciting, solicitation

5. a formal or written request for employment, admission, funding, authorization, etc.: His first job application led to an interview.

   She submitted applications to three universities.

   His first job application led to an interview.

6. Also called application form. a form to be filled out by an applicant, as for a job or a driver's license.

   Attach a passport photo to your completed application.

7. close attention; persistent effort.

   Application to one's studies is necessary.

   Synonyms:

   perseverance, persistence, industry, diligence, assiduity

8. an act or instance of spreading on, rubbing in, or bringing into contact: a second application of varnish.

   the application of a compress to a wound;

   a second application of varnish.

9. a salve, ointment, or the like, applied as a soothing or healing agent.

10. Computers. a computer program, such as a word processor, graphics editor, utility, etc., used for a particular type of job or problem.

    The new version 4.0 of their music production application contains several improvements.

    Antiviral and firewall applications are system utilities that protect your computer.

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application British  

/ ˌæplɪˈkeɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of applying to a particular purpose or use

2. relevance or value

   the practical applications of space technology

3. the act of asking for something

   an application for leave

4. a verbal or written request, as for a job, etc

   he filed his application

5. diligent effort or concentration

   a job requiring application

6. something, such as a healing agent or lotion, that is applied, esp to the skin

7. logic maths the process of determining the value of a function for a given argument

8. short for application program applications package

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application Scientific  

/ ăp′lĭ-kā′shən /

1. A computer program with an interface, enabling people to use the computer as a tool to accomplish a specific task. Word processing, spreadsheet, and communications software are all examples of applications.

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Synonym Usage

See effort.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• interapplication
  noun
• nonapplication
  noun
• overapplication
  noun
• preapplication
  noun
• reapplication
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• applications
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of application

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Middle French applicacio(u)n, from Latin applicātiōn- (stem of applicātiō ), equivalent to applicāt(us) “applied” (past participle of the verb applicāre apply ) + -iōn- -ion

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Explanation

An application is a request for a job, assistance or admission to a school. Colleges might want you to submit your application by Dec. 1, but they won't let you know if you've been accepted until sometime in April. An application is also a form you fill out for something. If you need a handicapped parking permit, you and your doctor must first fill out an application and then submit it in the town hall. An application is also a computer program designed to perform a task or solve a problem. If you didn't get enough sleep last night, the careful application of makeup can mask the dark circles under your eyes.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

application applications

The application requires a state driver’s license or California identification card number, or you can use the last four numbers on your Social Security card.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2026

Few Russians use the affected application, run by the ministry of emergency situations.

From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026

The Air Force message on Telegram read: "The Air Alarm application has probably been subjected to hostile interference. There is no radiation threat! Stay calm and follow our updates on our channel."

From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2026

Muse “has the potential to become the most widely used consumer AI application since ChatGPT,” JPMorgan analysts said in a note.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 1, 2026

When we filed an application through my uncle, my sister and I were finally issued work permits, which we were able to use to obtain our own Social Security numbers.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi

“My second week was full of phone calls, emails, job applications, and somber moments with co-workers.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026

The experiment demonstrated that the catalyst could convert glucose in a solution of this scale, an important step toward assessing its potential for medical applications.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 2, 2026

A generalist in subject matter, he specializes in editorial applications of machine learning, natural language processing and other computational methods.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 31, 2026

Immigration New Zealand told the BBC it had received multiple transit visa applications from Ranasingha - all declined "as we were not satisfied she has a genuine intention to transit through New Zealand".

From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026

College applications had been increasingly on Lexie’s mind.

From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng

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