source code

noun

: a computer program in its original programming language (such as FORTRAN or C) before translation into object code usually by a compiler

Examples of source code in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Several times in the last couple of decades, Microsoft has released source code for the original MS-DOS operating system that kicked off its decades-long dominance of consumer PCs. Andrew Cunningham, ArsTechnica, 30 Apr. 2026 In 1993, the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) announced that the World Wide Web, which was invented at CERN four years earlier by Tim Berners-Lee, was free for anyone to use, and released its source code to the public domain. Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026 Even two years ago, hackers could take the details of a disclosure and paste it into ChatGPT, then tell the bot to scan a public database of source code such as GitHub for other patterns which could then be exploited. Parmy Olson, Twin Cities, 18 Apr. 2026 In 1993, the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) announced that the World Wide Web, which was invented at CERN four years earlier by Tim Berners-Lee, was free for anyone to use, and released its source code to the public domain. ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for source code

Word History

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of source code was in 1965

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Cite this Entry

“Source code.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/source%20code. Accessed 14 May. 2026.

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