laptop
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of laptop
Explanation
Laptop is short for laptop computer. The big computer on your desk is a desktop, and the small one on your lap is a laptop. See what they did there? Now shoo that lapdog and get to work! There are other kinds of portable computers, but a laptop usually has a screen that folds over the keyboard when you’re not using it. The earliest versions of laptops were made in the 1970s, and they've become lighter, thinner, more portable, and much more popular since then. The word laptop was coined in 1984, based on — you guessed it — desktop, which describes the heavier, non-portable computer.
Vocabulary lists containing laptop
Computer Science and Technology - Introductory
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Units 2–3
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Computer Terms
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Along your vibe-coding journey, you might still want to throw your laptop into the ocean—but at least your dashboard will tell you how high the tide is.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 3, 2026
He did not admit contempt in relation to an accusation he failed to return a company laptop, which he says was bought for him personally.
From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026
“I had Punjabi music playing on my laptop once, and a Sikh student who didn’t know much about culture heard it and said, “This is really nice — who is this artist?”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026
Even in the face of soaring component costs, the company launched its budget laptop, the MacBook Neo, earlier this year.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 21, 2026
As promised, their laptop was waiting for them, and when she sat down, Brooklyn felt a blast of cool air from a nearby vent.
From "City Spies" by James Ponti
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.
