application programming interface
noun
variants
or less commonly application program interface
computing
: a set of rules that allows programmers to develop software for a particular operating system without having to be completely familiar with that operating system
To fix this problem, trustbusters have installed a provision forcing Microsoft to disclose more information about its so-called application programming interfaces, or APIs.—
Business Week
—abbreviation API
Business WeekExamples of application programming interface in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The order impacted hundreds of millions of ChatGPT Free, Plus, Pro, and Team users, as well as users of OpenAI’s application programming interface (API).
—PC Magazine, 11 Oct. 2025
According to the study, approximately 77% of prompts that the model receives through its API—the application programming interface that is primarily used by enterprise customers—involves users requesting the system to perform tasks on their behalf, rather than just providing advice or suggestions.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2025
Digital signals, or application programming interfaces, work for age verification like this: An individual would verify his or her age range through one app, which would then communicate with the restricted website or app to determine whether it could be accessed or not.
—Arpan Lobo, Freep.com, 20 Sep. 2025
The first is inferencing, or when users interact with the Claude chatbot or businesses tap Anthropic's application programming interfaces (APIs) to build their own tools using Claude's AI models.
—Paulina Likos, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for application programming interface
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PC Magazine, 11 Oct. 2025
According to the study, approximately 77% of prompts that the model receives through its API—the application programming interface that is primarily used by enterprise customers—involves users requesting the system to perform tasks on their behalf, rather than just providing advice or suggestions.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2025
Digital signals, or application programming interfaces, work for age verification like this: An individual would verify his or her age range through one app, which would then communicate with the restricted website or app to determine whether it could be accessed or not.
—Arpan Lobo, Freep.com, 20 Sep. 2025
The first is inferencing, or when users interact with the Claude chatbot or businesses tap Anthropic's application programming interfaces (APIs) to build their own tools using Claude's AI models.
—Paulina Likos, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for application programming interface
Cite this Entry
“Application programming interface.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/application%20programming%20interface. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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