application

noun ap·pli·ca·tion \ ˌa-plə-ˈkā-shən \

Updated on: 19 Nov 2017

Definition of application

1 : an act of applying:

a (1) : an act of putting something to use

application of new techniques

(2) : a use to which something is put

new applications for old remedies

b : an act of administering or laying one thing on another

application of paint to a house

c : assiduous attention

succeeds by application to her studies

2 a : request, petition

an application for financial aid

b : a form used in making a request

filling out an application

3 : a program (such as a word processor or a spreadsheet) that performs a particular task or set of tasks

4 : the practical conclusion or lesson to be derived from a speech or writing (such as a moral tale)

5 : a medicated or protective layer or material

an oily application for dry skin

6 : capacity for practical use

words of varied application

See application defined for English-language learners

See application defined for kids

Examples of application in a Sentence

Our loan application has been approved.
Anyone interested in running for office must file an application by August 1st.
If you'd like to be considered for the job, please send us a letter of application that gives your experience and qualifications.
Please fill out this application.
The application of heat often helps sore muscles.
Repeated application of fertilizer will help the grass become green and healthy.
Repeated applications of fertilizer will help the grass become green and healthy.
The cut should be treated with a generous application of ointment.
Strict application of the rules is necessary in this case.
the application of new information

Recent Examples of application from the Web

More: Collegiate senior wins scholarship to study language in South Korea The preparation: Prospective volunteers must first fill out an application, and once accepted are paired with a child who has applied to receive a wheelchair costume.

— elaine rooker jack, The Courier-Journal, "Oldham HS junior builds custom Halloween costume for boy in wheelchair," 25 Oct. 2017
Banks assume a customer is willing to come to a branch, fill out an application, provide paperwork, and then wait for a decision.

— william m. isaac and, WSJ, "Regulators Can Help American Workers Get the Credit They Deserve," 26 Oct. 2017
That explanation did little to placate users, tens of thousands of whom are staging a one-day boycott of the platform to protest its seemingly arbitrary and unequal application of speech rules.

— maya kosoff, The Hive, "Jack Dorsey’s Week from Hell Gets Worse," 13 Oct. 2017
At a doctor’s visit, on a college-admissions application, or even in a consumer-marketing survey, Americans are regularly asked to classify themselves by race.

— robyn autry, The Atlantic, "How Racial Data Gets 'Cleaned' in the U.S. Census," 5 Nov. 2017
This should have applications for many other places in the world, alas: San Francisco, New Orleans, Florida.

— klara glowczewska, Town & Country, "The Brando Is the Ultimate Luxury Resort—But What It Really Wants to Do Is Save the Planet," 20 Sep. 2017
The fiscal 2019 visa lottery is currently taking applications, with a deadline of noon Eastern time on Nov. 22.

— maria sacchetti, Washington Post, "Here’s what you need to know about the Diversity Visa Lottery Program," 1 Nov. 2017
The zone has received more than 400 applications from companies around the world, but not all have decided to go through the rigorous documentation process or have proposed projects that interest the Cubans.

— mimi whitefield, miamiherald, "Mariel is Cuba’s big industrial gamble. Could U.S. companies be among investors?," 23 Oct. 2017
The Presbyterian Church in Orland Park: 13401 Wolf Road — Crafter applications for the church arts and crafts fair are available at the church office.

— Daily Southtown, "Church news," 25 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'application.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of application

Middle English applicacioun, from Latin application-, applicatio inclination, from applicare — see apply

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

application Synonyms

Synonyms

use, employment, exercise, operation, play, usage

Related Words

exertion; reuse

Near Antonyms

disuse, nonuse

Other Computer-Related Terms

adware, flash, kludge, phishing, recursive, router

APPLICATION Defined for Kids

application

noun ap·pli·ca·tion \ ˌa-plə-ˈkā-shən \

Definition of application for Students

1 : the act or an instance of applying

application of the rules

One application of paint should cover the wall well enough.

2 : something put or spread on a surface

The nurse put cold applications on the sprained ankle.

3 : ¹request 1

an application for a job

4 : a document used to make a request for something

You have to fill out an application.

5 : ability to be put to practical use

The tool has a number of applications.

6 : a computer program (as a word processor or browser)

Medical Dictionary

application

noun ap·pli·ca·tion \ ˌap-lə-ˈkā-shən \

medical Definition of application

1 : an act of applying

the application of a dressing to a wound

2 : a medicated or protective layer or material

an oily application for dry skin

Law Dictionary

application

noun ap·pli·ca·tion

legal Definition of application

: a request for action or relief

most applications request bail…or an extension of time to file
—W. J. Brennan, Jr.

; also : a form used to make such a request

an insurance application

Learn More about application

See words that rhyme with application Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for application Spanish Central: Translation of application Nglish: Translation of application for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of application for Arabic speakers

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Examples of application in a Sentence

Recent Examples of application from the Web

Origin and Etymology of application

application Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Other Computer-Related Terms

APPLICATION Defined for Kids

application

Definition of application for Students

Medical Dictionary

application

medical Definition of application

Law Dictionary

application

legal Definition of application

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