tablet

noun

tab·​let ˈta-blət 

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

c

: pad entry 1 sense 2

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.

b

: graphics tablet

Synonyms

• notebook
• pad

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

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is recommending banning a compound found in unregulated tablets, gummies and drink mixes sold online and at gas stations and convenience stores, the Trump administration announced this week. —Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 31 July 2025

Samsung said that strong performance was driven by robust sales of its Galaxy S25 series and Galaxy A series smartphones, as well as its Galaxy tablets. —Dylan Butts, CNBC, 31 July 2025

This means the user can be working at a studio desk, sketching ideas on a tablet or making a few quick edits on their phone, bringing creative visions to life wherever and whenever inspiration strikes. —Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025

Judging by Walters' press release, the suspicion appears to be that someone in the room had a phone, tablet, or laptop connected to or previously paired with the television, and that the images were coming from that machine. —Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 28 July 2025

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

Phrases Containing tablet

• digitizing tablet
• graphics tablet

Kids Definition

tablet

noun

tab·​let ˈtab-lət 

1

a

: a flat slab suited for an inscription

b

: pad entry 2 sense 4

2

a

: a compressed or molded block of a solid material

b

: a small usually round mass of material containing medicine

aspirin tablet

3

a

: graphics tablet

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 

: a small mass of medicated material (as in the shape of a disk)

an aspirin tablet