\ ə-ˈbend
, ˈab-ˌend \
, ˈab-ˌend \
plural abends
Definition of abend
computing
: the unexpected failure of a piece of computer software
As the average network administrator sleeps, nightmares of hardware failures and server abends compete for time against sweet dreams of what some technicians call nirvana, and others call a pipe dream—finding a network operating system that they can call secure.— Kevin Novak, Network Computing, 16 Oct. 2000
Learn More About abend
Statistics for abend
Look-up Popularity
Cite this Entry
“Abend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abend. Accessed 28 Jun. 2022.
Style: MLA
MLA
Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster
Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster
Test Your Vocabulary
Great Words for Scrabble
-
- Which of the following Q-without-U words means the number five in cards or dice?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
-
Commonly Confused Words Quiz
Take a (break/brake) and (pore/pour) over this (c...
Take the quiz
-
Words Named After People
Find out who’s behind "leotard," "morphine," an...
Take the quiz
-
Spell It
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
Take the quiz
-
Spelling Bee Quiz
Can you outdo past winners of the National Spelli...
Take the quiz
Share abend
Time Traveler for abend
The first known use of abend was in 1974
See more words from the same year