demo

noun \ ˈde-(ˌ)mō \

Updated on: 8 Apr 2018

Definition of demo

plural demos

1 capitalized : democrat 2

2 a : demonstration 1b

b British : demonstration 4

3 a : demonstrator a

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

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

a demo version of the software

4 : demographic 2

See demo defined for English-language learners

See demo defined for kids

Examples of demo in a Sentence

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 of demo from the Web

If that sounds unlikely, just try the demo and see for yourself.

— eric limer, Popular Mechanics, "How Copy-Pasted Text Can Hide a Secret Message That Narcs on You," 4 Apr. 2018
Merchant’s signing and demo is free and open to the public on April 11 from noon to 1 p.m. at Northeastern University’s Xhibition Kitchen, Stetson West Eatery, 11 Speare Place, Boston, 617-373-2472.

— rachel raczka, BostonGlobe.com, "‘Your most reliable girlfriend’ is coming to town and bringing her new cookbook," 2 Apr. 2018
Lucky for me the Firmament demo was at GDC last week.

— hayden dingman, PCWorld, "Cyan’s brief Firmament demo feels like Myst without the Myst name," 28 Mar. 2018
MSC Cruise passenger Margaret Howard, from Burton Upon Trent, England, participates in a wine-blending demo in the Blend Craft Wine space aboard the MSC Divina on March 8, 2018.

— jane wooldridge, miamiherald, "His plan called for a winery at sea. But he’s found even more success on land | Miami Herald," 25 Mar. 2018
Made In Rada and others believe the target demo for most of these companies, older millennials, hasn’t upgraded to quality cookware or established brand loyalty.

— patrick sisson, Curbed, "Kitchenware startups targeting millennial home cooks," 22 Mar. 2018
Featuring 70-plus exhibitors representing golf retailers/manufacturers/travel, PGA quick tip instruction, demo area, putting and long drive contests, kids zone, show specials, more.

— idahostatesman, "Birder talk and golf show among Treasure Valley events next few weeks | Idaho Statesman," 7 Feb. 2018
Barb, who was tragically eaten by a demo-dog in the oozing Upside Down.

— ella cerón, Teen Vogue, "Shannon Purser on "Riverdale," "Rise," and TV Fan Theories," 20 Mar. 2018
The session includes a demo of Mail Chimp and Constant Contact.

— linda g. kramer, cleveland.com, "Berea offers free business seminar March 28: Community Voices," 19 Mar. 2018

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

First Known Use of demo

1793

demo

verb

Definition of demo

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 : demolish

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

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

3 : to create a demo (see ¹demo 3b) recording of (a piece of music)

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

4 : 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

Recent Examples of demo from the Web

Samsung and Lenovo have already demoed phones with foldable screens, but neither have actually released such a device on the market.

— shannon liao, The Verge, "Apple may be making a foldable iPhone within the next two years," 23 Mar. 2018
Macy’s views the technology as enabling the company to demo a wider range furniture without devoting as much physical space to displaying it in its stores.

— chaim gartenberg, The Verge, "Macy’s is using VR — not AR — to sell furniture," 19 Mar. 2018
Hoffman demoed the app for us this week using an iRobot 510 PackBot, as well as tiny 110 FirstLook.

— andrew moseman, Popular Mechanics, "Now All You Need Is a Tablet to Drive iRobot's Awesome Machines," 9 Oct. 2014
Intended for children ages 8 to 12, Tech & Tinker gives kids the chance to demo, create and learn how to use a variety of different types of technology with a new special feature each month.

— geoff bruce, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Things to do in Lake Country this week," 11 Jan. 2018
In the meantime, Mitchell is going to demo the technology for the forestry service, too.

— erik schechter, Popular Mechanics, "Firefighters Use Special Forces Gear to Stay Connected," 10 Sep. 2014
Apple Music chief Jimmy Iovine was spotted demoing the venue's beamforming sound technology, which distributes sound pressure and volume evenly across large distances such that every seat is, at least sonically, the best seat in the house.

— cherie hu, Billboard, "Why Madison Square Garden Thinks It Has Designed the Venue Of the Future," 9 Feb. 2018
Later in the episode, Bell uses a hairband and a watermelon to demo exactly what will happen during delivery.

— blake bakkila, Health.com, "Kristen Bell Gets Real About Childbirth in Her New Web Series," 31 Jan. 2018
So, what's the best strategy? Latest Tech or Gear You Love Renting at the mountain gives you options for high-end skis and demoing the latest ski technology and styles.

— kristin emery, Popular Mechanics, "Should You Rent Skis or Buy Them?," 11 Feb. 2014

Origin and Etymology of demo

by shortening

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1969

See Words from the same year

demo-

combining form

variants: or before vowels dem-

Definition of demo-

: people : populace : population

demography

demonym

Origin and Etymology of demo-

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. ¹tide), assuming a noun *deh₂-mos meaning originally "part, division," is still possible, though it would be deprived of any support beside Greek.