laptop
Americannoun
-
laptops
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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.
See Examples For:
They took Walter’s phone and laptop, along with devices from his employees who were aboard.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026
He said Meta would also release a new class of open source models, designed to run on a laptop.
From Barron's ● Aug. 10, 2026
The seriousness of the investigation has been highlighted by subpoenas served on the insurers and the reported seizure of Walter’s cellphone and laptop by federal authorities.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026
"When I work on my laptop, I forget everything. I forget what's happened," Tarik says.
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
I grab my laptop, power it on, and find the document.
From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison
The cost of computer-related technology typically found in consumer products such as laptops, cell phones and routers has never been a big and growing part of household budgets — until now.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 15, 2026
The theatre said the items were stolen on Monday along with other items of tech, including six laptops and an iPad.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
The chip shortage is pushing people to buy cheaper laptops than desktops, which can last up to a decade, said Brousse, in Tokyo on his honeymoon.
From Barron's ● Aug. 2, 2026
Lithium-ion batteries currently power most smartphones, laptops, electric vehicles, and many large energy storage systems.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 1, 2026
Boubacar s students all had laptops open in front of them, the screens bright with e-mail pages, Google searches, celebrity photos.
From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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.
