screen saver

American  

Also screensaver

noun

Computers.

1. a program that displays a constantly shifting pattern on a screen when the computer is idle, originally used to prevent damage to the screen through continuous display of the same image but now used primarily for decoration.

---

Example Sentences

It has the feel of a soothingly looped AI screen saver, a trance-inducing spell where nothing matters so long as your high heels aren’t hurting your feet.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 2, 2026

The scoreboard might as well have switched to a screen saver.

From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 28, 2025

Much of his current research uses digital stimuli of nature, such as a screen saver, to test a person’s emotions.

From Washington Post • Apr. 13, 2023

Yes, your memory is accurate, although you have to go all the way back to Windows XP if you want the screen saver to display the file name.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 14, 2023

He jiggled the mouse beside his keyboard to get rid of the screen saver.

From "The Stars Beneath Our Feet" by David Barclay Moore