search engine

American  

[surch en-juhn] / ˈsɜrtʃ ˌɛn dʒən /

noun

Digital Technology.

1. a computer program that searches documents, especially on the World Wide Web, for a specified word or words and provides a list of documents in which they are found.

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search engine British  

noun

1. computing a service provided on the internet enabling users to search for items of interest

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search engine Cultural  

1. Web sites or software that search the Internet for documents that contain a key word, phrase, or subject that is specified by the user to the search engine. Each engine has its own method of searching for information.

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Etymology

Origin of search engine

First recorded in 1990–95

Example Sentences

The European Union is asking Google to share its search engine data with competitors.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026

A new German online search engine is helping people to discover if their ancestors were members of the Nazi Party.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

Use of ChatGPT's online search engine has tripled over the course of a year, according to OpenAI.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

Through methods like search engine optimization and other nifty page-ranking subterfuge, this nonverified content climbs to the top of search results and people’s consciousness.

From Slate • Mar. 28, 2026

After a quick glance over his shoulder to make sure Nurse Beverly had left the room, he quickly called up a search engine and typed in “whatnot rules.”

From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix