user interface

noun

plural user interfaces
: software that is designed to allow a computer user to interact with the operating system of a machine or system (such as by selecting presented options or entering text commands)
Likewise, the user interface is remarkably unintuitive, requiring a whirlwind of relentless mouse clicking to move, talk, touch, look, or manipulate onscreen objects.Scott A. May
… a new user interface he vows will change the way people use computers.InfoWorld
especially : graphical user interface
abbreviation UI

Examples of user interface in a Sentence

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.
The branding will accompany fresh user interfaces across the operating systems — an attempt to ensure a more cohesive experience when people move between devices. Bloomberg, Mercury News, 29 May 2025 Netflix also rolled out a major overhaul of its user interface on May 19. Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 26 May 2025 That's in stark contrast to another recent big-budget, mainstream strategy game release (Civilization VII), which offered robust onboarding tutorials but also had a user interface that at times failed completely to indicate to players what their choices meant. ArsTechnica, 19 May 2025 This was not an isolated incident: since its troubled 2019 launch, AP Classroom has been plagued by glitches, confusing user interfaces, and reliability issues. Scott White, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for user interface

Word History

First Known Use

1967, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of user interface was in 1967

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Cite this Entry

“User interface.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/user%20interface. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

user interface

noun
: software that is designed to allow a computer user to interact with the operating system of a machine or system
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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