user interface

noun

plural user interfaces

: software that is designed to allow a computer user to interact with the operating system of a machine or system (such as by selecting presented options or entering text commands)

Likewise, the user interface is remarkably unintuitive, requiring a whirlwind of relentless mouse clicking to move, talk, touch, look, or manipulate onscreen objects.

—Scott A. May

… a new user interface he vows will change the way people use computers.

—InfoWorld

especially : graphical user interface

—abbreviation UI

Examples of user interface in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This could mean regulating companies’ use of user interface features like auto-play and infinite scroll, or ensuring algorithmic recommendations are not pushing harmful content to users. —Angelica Ang, Fortune, 9 Dec. 2025

Joseph Terranova, senior managing director at Virtus Investment Partners, added that the departure of Apple 's user interface design head, Alan Dye, to Meta as another positive sign. —Alex Harring, CNBC, 4 Dec. 2025

The user interface on the Seestar app was very intuitive and simple to operate. —Harry Bennett, Space.com, 28 Nov. 2025

Most smart watches offer some sort of health tracking, but Garmin’s user interface and its ability to give your training status and sleep status a numerical score is what sets it apart for me. —Graham Averill, Outside, 12 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1967, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for user interface

• asparaginase
• dehydrogenase
• lipoxygenase
• abase
• airspace
• apace
• backspace
• biface
• birthplace
• blackface
• boldface
• bookcase

Kids Definition

user interface

noun

: software that is designed to allow a computer user to interact with the operating system of a machine or system

especially : graphical user interface