personal computer

American  

noun

1. a compact computer that uses a microprocessor and is designed for individual use, as by a person in an office or at home or school, for such applications as word processing, data management, financial analysis, or computer games. PC

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personal computer British  

noun

1. a small inexpensive computer used in word processing, playing computer games, etc

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personal computer Scientific  

/ pûr′sə-nəl /

1. A computer built around a microprocessor for use by an individual. Personal computers have their own operating systems, software, and peripherals, and can generally be linked to networks.

2. Compare mainframe

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personal computer Cultural  

1. A computer typically used in the home, office, or school. Also a generic term for a PC Microsoft® operating system.

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Etymology

Origin of personal computer

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

Leaving his role at Compaq — the largest personal computer company at that time — to work at Apple was risky because of the company’s financial struggles.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

The idea of artificial intelligence, let alone a personal computer, was a fantasy at best.

From Salon • Mar. 26, 2026

The explosion in value I enjoyed can be owed to something that happened in the U.S. around 1980: Americans invented the personal computer industry.

From Barron's • Mar. 14, 2026

Early successes in helping define and popularize the personal computer were followed by a troubled adolescence that almost proved fatal.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

Just a few years before he was born, in 1983, Time magazine did a twist on its person of the year feature and instead named the personal computer its “Machine of the Year.”

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel

Related Words

• desktop computer
• laptop
• minicomputer
• workstation