tablet

noun

tab·​let ˈta-blət How to pronounce tablet (audio)
1
a
: a flat slab or plaque suited for or bearing an inscription
b
: a thin slab or one of a set of portable sheets used for writing
2
a
: a small mass of medicated material
an aspirin tablet
b
: a compressed or molded block of a solid material
3
a
or tablet computer : a mobile computing device that has a flat, rectangular form like that of a magazine or pad of paper, that is usually controlled by means of a touch screen, and that is typically used for accessing the Internet, watching videos, playing games, reading electronic books, etc.

Examples of tablet in a Sentence

you'll need to use your writing tablet to record all the information that the real estate agent is likely to reel off take two tablets of the medication every eight hours
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Don’t jarringly, full-on recline, thereby banging into knees, knocking over tablets, or spilling drinks. Rebecca Deurlein, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025 The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE is ideal for anyone looking for a versatile and affordable tablet or anyone who wants a hassle-free, do-it-all device. Shubham Yewale, PCMAG, 24 Feb. 2025 The device can then be folded outward to show a larger, 8.12-inch tablet. Ryan Browne, CNBC, 20 Feb. 2025 So, your ultra-budget tablet or Fire TV Stick will still have access to streaming apps and simple games, but future Fire hardware could skip Android altogether. Ryan Whitwam, Ars Technica, 20 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tablet

Word History

Etymology

Middle English tablett, from Anglo-French tablet, diminutive of table table

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of tablet was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

“Tablet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tablet. Accessed 28 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

tablet

noun
tab·​let ˈtab-lət How to pronounce tablet (audio)
1
a
: a flat slab suited for an inscription
2
a
: a compressed or molded block of a solid material
b
: a small usually round mass of material containing medicine
aspirin tablet
3
b
or tablet computer : a mobile computing device that has a flat rectangular form, is usually controlled by means of a touch screen, and is typically used for accessing the Internet, watching videos, and reading e-books

Medical Definition

tablet

noun
tab·​let ˈtab-lət How to pronounce tablet (audio)
: a small mass of medicated material (as in the shape of a disk)
an aspirin tablet

More from Merriam-Webster on tablet

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!