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computer science

American  

noun

  1. the science that deals with the theory and methods of processing information in digital computers, the design of computer hardware and software, and the applications of computers.

computer science British  

noun

  1. the study of computers and their application

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
computer science Scientific  

  1. The study of the design and operation of computer hardware and software, and of the application of computer technology to science, business, and the arts.

Other Word Forms

  • computer scientist noun

Etymology

Origin of computer science

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Masie Nchama, a computer science student who dreamed of moving abroad, left the central African nation for military training but found himself forcibly enrolled in the Russian army and headed for war.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026

No computer science degrees—just pure vibes and Claude.

From Slate • Apr. 5, 2026

McCardel, like CEO Karp and many other Palantirians, did not have a traditional engineering or computer science background.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 4, 2026

At the time, Zhang was completing a doctorate in computer science at Harvard, and Gasztowtt was studying the same subject as an undergraduate at Oxford University.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

“N-no, I organize everything. Math notes, computer science notes, bio notes. Oh, and my MTG cards.”

From "From Twinkle, with Love" by Sandhya Menon

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.