personal computer

noun

: a general-purpose computer equipped with a microprocessor and designed to run especially commercial software (such as a word processor or Internet browser) for an individual user

Examples of personal computer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Intel, the largest maker of personal computer processors, is suffering from low manufacturing yields — the percentage of usable chips coming out of its factories. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026

Laptops, any type of personal computers and tablets. —Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 21 Jan. 2026

But with the rise of personal computers (PCs), UC Berkeley researchers like David Gedye and David Anderson realized that the untapped pool of citizen scientists could be a vital asset. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 14 Jan. 2026

Unlike personal computers, which were built around legacy x86 architectures, smartphones were developed on entirely new operating systems such as Android and iOS. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for personal computer

• commuter
• polluter
• recruiter
• microcomputer
• minicomputer
• supercomputer
• neuter
• pewter
• router
• scooter
• shooter
• suitor

Kids Definition

personal computer

noun

: a small general-purpose computer with a microprocessor