search engine

American

[surch en-juhn] / ˈsɜrtʃ ˌɛn dʒən /

noun

Digital Technology.

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.

search engine British

noun

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

"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

search engine Cultural

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.

Etymology

Origin of search engine

First recorded in 1990–95

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.

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

From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026

Die Zeit said the response to the search engine has been "overwhelming".

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

“IT’S A NIGHTMARE,” Alex groaned, keying in Travel Agents in the Internet search engine.

From "Nim’s Island" by Wendy Orr

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023