browser

American  

[brou-zer] / ˈbraʊ zər /

noun

1. a person or thing that browses.

2. Digital Technology. a software program that allows the user to find and read encoded documents in a form suitable for display, especially such a program for use on the internet.

   You may need to pause internet security features and refresh the page in your web browser to play the embedded videos.

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browser British  

/ ˈbraʊzə /

noun

1. a person or animal that browses

2. computing a software package that enables a user to find and read hypertext files, esp on the Internet

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browser Scientific  

/ brou′zər /

1. A program that accesses and displays files and other data available on the Internet and other networks. Entering a website's URL in the address window of a browser will bring up that website in the browser's main window.

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browser Cultural  

1. See Web browser.

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Other Word Forms

• nonbrowser noun

Etymology

Origin of browser

browse ( def. ) + -er ¹ ( def. ); browser def. 1 was first recorded in 1680–90, and browser def. 2 in 1980–85

Example Sentences

That left Google with its lucrative deal as Apple’s default search engine and removed the risk of having to sell its Chrome browser.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

Anthropic’s new tool allows Claude to open files, use a browser and run developer tools automatically.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 24, 2026

Last week, OpenAI announced that it was combining its ChatGPT desktop app, coding tool Codex and browser into one “superapp.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026

Kineto's apps run in the browser, which requires a web connection, and aren't available in app stores.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026

I close the browser, open up an Instant Messenger window, and click on Alicia's screen name. bobby7272: hey alicia—you awake?

From "Things Not Seen" by Andrew Clements