search engine

noun

: computer software used to search data (such as text or a database) for specified information

also : a site on the Internet that uses such software to locate key words in other sites

Examples of search engine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Compared to the rapidly declining number of referrals from traditional search engines — which once numbered in the tens of millions — these AI clicks are a tiny drop in the bucket. — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 24 Sep. 2026

Amazon prevents Muse from browsing its online store, although Meta’s agent can still retrieve product links through search engines. — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2026

For decades, public relations and search engine optimization operated in separate lanes. — Ohad Ben Artzi, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026

By this logic, a locomotive is just like a horse, only faster; e-mail is just like mail, only faster; a large language model is merely a superfast search engine. — Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1984, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

search engine

noun

: computer software used to search data (as text or a database) for specified information

also : a website that uses such software