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

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

Its unlimited device support and bundled extras, including antivirus, data breach alerts and a private search engine, make it a cost-effective all-in-one solution.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026

The market for traditional search engine optimization was $20 billion to $25 billion, but the potential for AI-driven commerce is much larger, said Amay Aggarwal, a co-founder of Anglera.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 11, 2026

She opened up the search engine on Mama’s smartphone and scrolled through some recipes on the cooking website they liked to use.

From "The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street" by Karina Yan Glaser