hard disk

noun

: a rigid metal disk coated with a magnetic material on which data for a computer can be stored

also : hard drive

Examples of hard disk in a Sentence

Remember to save the file to your hard disk.

Recent Examples on the Web

The unidentified home invaders stole his phone; computers; a hard disk holding his past movies; awards, including his Golden Leopard, and shooting equipment, which was being rented, as well as personal papers and bank cards. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2025

What if a client mistakenly formats a hard disk, installs a new Windows operating system, and then realizes the original Outlook Personal Storage Table (PST) file is missing? —Chongwei Chen, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025

This is nothing new, of course; for decades now, using a computer has meant being online, and the conglomeration of digital materials in your head, on your hard disk, and on the internet often cause trouble. —Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 14 July 2025

The hard disk drive was merely a means to a better user experience. —Daisuke Takimoto, Wired News, 27 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hard disk

• basilisk
• bisque
• brisk
• disc
• fisc
• fisk
• frisk
• risk
• whisk
• videodisc

Kids Definition

hard disk

noun

1

: a small hard metal disk with a magnetic coating on which computer data can be stored

2

: hard drive