search term

American

noun

Computers.

a word or other term used to electronically retrieve data, web pages, or other information from files, databases, etc..

When you search the shopping website, ads relating to your search terms will appear along with your search results.

Etymology

Origin of search term

First recorded in 1955–60

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.

Some retailers have told Weingard that NeeDoh has been the No. 1 search term on their websites in recent weeks, followed by items like milk.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

While the search term "bone smashing" is banned on TikTok, 18-24-year-old men are the most common demographic searching variant phrases.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

Google ranked Black the fastest-rising search term of the entire year in 2011.

From Salon • Feb. 16, 2026

At least one search term — Taylor Swift AI — was still apparently blocked.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 30, 2024

When he entered the search term “AIDS” into a computer, thousands of studies came up.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

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