dongle

noun

don·​gle ˈdäŋ-gəl How to pronounce dongle (audio)
ˈdȯŋ-
: a small device that plugs into a computer and serves as an adapter or as a security measure to enable the use of certain software

Examples of dongle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Corsair also includes a small compartment underneath the shell for storing the Slipstream dongle, a useful feature for travel. Sascha Brodsky, PC Magazine, 25 Aug. 2025 The only significant downside of this keyboard is the lack of a 2.4-GHz dongle. Henri Robbins, Wired News, 23 Aug. 2025 The multipurpose wireless Base Station acts as a lossless 2.4GHz dongle and gives quick access to lighting and audio settings. Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025 But why would a USB-A port be hidden inside a dongle designed for USB-C? Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for dongle

Word History

Etymology

perhaps alteration of dangle

First Known Use

1981, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dongle was in 1981

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Cite this Entry

“Dongle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dongle. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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