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proxy server

American  
[prok-see sur-ver] / ˈprɒk si ˌsɜr vər /

noun

Computers.
  1. a server that receives requests, filters them, and forwards them to a network on behalf of another computer or network which it represents under a surrogate IP address: used to provide anonymity or increased security or to carry out intermediate processing.


proxy server British  

noun

  1. computing a computer that acts as an intermediary between a client machine and a server, caching information to save access time

"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

Etymology

Origin of proxy server

First recorded in 1985–90

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:

Typically, a proxy server is configured per application, whereas a VPN applies to your entire connection, regardless of the app used.

From Salon Nov. 26, 2025

A proxy server is an intermediary between users and web services and acts as a web filter that allow netizens to circumvent restrictions and censorship.

From Reuters Jan. 5, 2023

I’m using a proxy server that a friend, who’s been using it for work, just opened up for the rest of us in a Telegram tech group.

From The Verge Apr. 17, 2018

Second, your Web browser may have been reconfigured — either inadvertently by you or intentionally by malware — to use a proxy server.

From Seattle Times Apr. 29, 2016

Rather than directly accessing the original Web page in its original language, users can instead indirectly access the page via a proxy server offering translation features.

From Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) Ruling by United States District Court For The Eastern District Of Pennsylvania

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