demo

1 of 6

noun (1)

ˈde-(ˌ)mō 

plural demos

1

a

: demonstration sense 1b

b

British : demonstration sense 4

2

a

: an example of a product that is not yet ready to be sold

a demo version of the software

b

: a recording intended to show off a song or performer to a record producer

c

: demonstrator sense a

demo

2 of 6

verb (1)

demoed also demo'd; demoing also demo'ing; demos

transitive verb

1

: to give a demonstration of (something, such as a product or procedure) : to show how (something) works, is prepared, or is done

The chef demoed everything. His first demo was peeling a carrot.

—Michael Ruhlman

One dealer didn't even have demonstration software; the only thing he could demo was the power light.

—Video Magazine

2

: to create a demo (see demo entry 1 sense 2b) recording of (a piece of music)

… spent three months rehearsing and demoing songs for their third album …

—David Fricke

3

: to use (something, such as a product) in order to test its quality or value : to try out (something)

The surest way to pick exactly the right ski for your needs is to first narrow your choices to a workable number … and then go out and demo three or four pairs to make your final selection.

—Bill Grout

demo

3 of 6

verb (2)

demoed also demo'd; demoing also demo'ing; demos

transitive verb

: demolish

Brick salvaged from a demoed fireplace and backyard path make up the new stoop and walkway.

—Natalie Rodriguez

My mom put little masks on me and my brother, gave us goggles and crowbars, and we demo'd the walls.

—Matt Damon

demo

4 of 6

noun (2)

plural demos

: demographic sense 2

Demo

5 of 6

noun (3)

ˈde-(ˌ)mō 

plural Demos

: democrat sense 2

demo-

6 of 6

combining form

variants or before vowels dem-

: people : populace : population

demography

demonym

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• demonstration
• rally

Examples of demo in a Sentence

Noun (1)

She will be showing a demo of the company's new alarm system.

a demo version of the software

I saw a demo on how to use the computer program.

The salesman gave us a demo of the vacuum cleaner, and it seemed to work very well.

They sent the demo to several record companies.

She cut a demo last week.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

It was initially released as a demo on Newgrounds, the early-internet everything-forum where a slew of artists originated: the madcap animator MeatCanyon, hyperpop producer six impala. —Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 23 Apr. 2025

Sikes built the bulk of a demo that day, converting that riff to a programmed steel guitar in some parts of the performance. —Tom Roland, Billboard, 22 Apr. 2025

Verb

The team plans to demo the concept later this decade. —Ramin Skibba, WIRED, 15 Mar. 2023

Last fall, Samsung Display and Intel demoed a PC concept that was essentially a 13-inch tablet that could slide out into a 17.3-inch one. —Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 27 Feb. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

by shortening from demonstration or demonstrator

Verb (1)

verbal derivative of demo entry 1

Verb (2)

by shortening

Noun (2)

by shortening

Noun (3)

by shortening

Combining form

combining form from Greek dêmos "district, country, people, common people, political district in Attica," of uncertain origin

Note: Greek dêmos has traditionally been linked with Old Irish dám "guests, company, retinue," Old Welsh dauu, glossing Latin cliens (hence, presumably, "member of a retinue"), Modern Welsh daw, dawf "son-in-law." However, the semantic discrepancy between the two etyma is significant, and Celtic *dāmo-/*dāmā- has more recently been explained as going back to *dōmo-, a lengthened-grade adjectival derivative of Indo-European *dom-o-s, "house, household." The further traditional link with Indo-European *deh₂- "cut, divide" (whence Greek daíomai, daíesthai "to divide"; cf. tide entry 1), assuming a noun *deh₂-mos meaning originally "part, division," is still possible, though it would be deprived of any support beside Greek.

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1904, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Verb (1)

1969, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1994, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1980, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1793, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for demo

• nemo
• supremo

Kids Definition

demo

noun

ˈdem-ō 

plural demos

: demonstrator sense 2