platform

noun

plat·​form ˈplat-ˌfȯrm How to pronounce platform (audio)
plural platforms
1
a
: a flat horizontal surface that is usually higher than the adjoining area: such as
(1)
: a raised flooring (such as a stage or dais)
… a great stack of chairs piled up on and about the musicians' platformJoseph Conrad
From this official table on a raised platform … , Robert Thomas, the show's chairman, directs operations …Liz Horwitt
(2)
: an elevated area next to railroad tracks for the boarding of trains
The platform was crowded with waiting passengers.
b
: a device or structure incorporating or providing a platform
a viewing platform
specifically : such a structure on legs used for offshore drilling (as for oil)
2
: a declaration of the principles on which a group of persons stands
especially : a declaration of principles and policies adopted by a political party or a candidate
the Republican/Democratic platform
She's running (for office) on a platform of reform.
3
: a means or opportunity to communicate ideas or information to a group of people
The event provides a platform for Latino artists, writers and creators in the comic book industry.Sonia Ramirez
… a new understanding among the young of how celebrity now works, and the power of a personal brand as a marketing platform.Strawberry Saroyan
4
: the grounds or basis for further action
The company used the innovation as a platform for future growth.
5
a
or platform sole plural platform soles : a usually thick layer (as of cork) between the inner sole and outer sole of a shoe
b
or platform shoe plural platform shoes : a shoe having such a sole
6
computing
a
: operating system
also : the computer architecture and equipment using a particular operating system
b
: an application or website that serves as a base from which a service is provided
music streaming platforms
… has built a cloud-computing platform for use by others.The Economist
… billions of photos scraped from Facebook and other social media platforms.C. J. Ciaramella
7
a
: a vehicle (such as a satellite or aircraft) used for a particular purpose or to carry a usually specified kind of equipment
b
: a basic pattern (such as the chassis) upon which an automobile or class of automobiles is constructed
Based on the platform of Fiat's upmarket Alfa Romeo Giulietta, though wider and longer for American roads, it's all in all a much sexier compact than anything Chrysler has ever designed.Bill Saporito
8
obsolete : plan, design

Examples of platform in a Sentence

He stepped up onto the platform and looked out into the audience. She stepped off the train onto the platform. Our train is boarding on platform 6. The party adopted a new platform. The company plans to use the show as a platform to launch the new soft drink.
Recent Examples on the Web The slang refers to the users who follow you back on a social media platform and engage with you on a frequent and consistent basis. Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 9 Mar. 2024 Meta, along with other major social media companies, faces growing scrutiny over the safety of young users on its platforms. Clare Duffy, CNN, 9 Mar. 2024 Meanwhile, Meta suffered a major outage this week that took most of its platforms offline. Dhruv Mehrotra, WIRED, 9 Mar. 2024 Much like Trump’s original executive order, the bill would force ByteDance to sell the platform and, if the company refused, would allow Congress to ban the site altogether. Matt Novak / Gizmodo, Quartz, 8 Mar. 2024 Instead, in the show, which opened on Thursday at the Park Avenue Armory, Stevens’s wistful and sometimes enigmatic numbers, set in various Illinois locations, are performed by three vocalists on platforms high above the action, wearing butterfly wings as if to stay aloft. Jesse Green, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024 The stream went viral, reportedly racking up 350 million views on the Chinese live streaming platform Bilibili. Nicholas Gordon, Fortune Asia, 8 Mar. 2024 The child safety advocate said parents should have regular conversations with their children about the dangers of dating apps and social media platforms in general, where predators may be seeking to connect with minors. Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 8 Mar. 2024 Spotify's Ad Analytics platform is a prime example of unlocking value by providing advertisers with insights and metrics to refine their campaigns—delivering value to their advertisers while fostering loyalty and retention. Kevan Yalowitz, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'platform.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle French plate-forme diagram, map, literally, flat form

First Known Use

1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of platform was in 1535

Dictionary Entries Near platform

Cite this Entry

“Platform.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/platform. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

platform

noun
plat·​form ˈplat-ˌfȯrm How to pronounce platform (audio)
1
: a declaration of the beliefs and goals of a political party or candidate
2
a
: a level usually raised surface
a railroad station platform
b
: a raised floor or stage for performers or speakers
3
: a thick sole for a shoe or a shoe with such a sole

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