hard disk

American  

[hahrd disk] / ˈhɑrd ˈdɪsk /

noun

Computers.

• hard disks
  plural

1. a rigid circular platter coated with magnetic material, on which data and programs can be stored.

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hard disk British  

noun

1. a disk of rigid magnetizable material that is used to store data for computers: it is permanently mounted in its disk drive and usually has a storage capacity of a few gigabytes

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hard disk Scientific  

/ härd /

1. A rigid magnetic disk fixed within a disk drive and used for storing computer data. Hard disks hold more data than floppy disks, and data on a hard disk can be accessed faster than data on a floppy disk.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• hard disks
  plural

Etymology

Origin of hard disk

First recorded in 1980–85

Compare meaning

How does hard-disk compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• floppy disk vs. hard disk

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hard disk

The report also noted that the company’s planned expansion of a Philippines plant would mark its first meaningful investment in hard disk drives in half a decade.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 2, 2026

Shares of Western Digital and Seagate Technology are falling early Friday, reflecting concerns about the potential for heightened overseas competition in the market for hard disk drives.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 2, 2026

I could look up some clips or study his data any time, but now what he can do is stored in the hard disk in my head.

From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026

Rare earths are a term covering 17 metallic elements that are key for manufacturing components used in products such as smartphones, batteries, and hard disk drives, among others.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 23, 2026

She reads my mind—which is something she's too good at—and says, "Remember, Bobby, if you send any e-mail, erase your tracks from the hard disk when you're done."

From "Things Not Seen" by Andrew Clements