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screen saver

American  
Also screensaver

noun

Computers.
screen savers plural
  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.


Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

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:

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

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 28, 2025

Someone describes it as like being inside a screen saver.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 3, 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

His smartphone’s screen saver flashed a photo of his smiling teenage daughter, still living in North Korea.

From New York Times Apr. 3, 2023

Mother’s computer was on, the screen saver casting a green light over the living room.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover

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