killer app
noun
: a computer application of such great value or popularity that it assures the success of the technology with which it is associated
broadly
: a feature or component that in itself makes something worth having or using
Examples of killer app in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Meta could counter that by putting its money toward a killer app, something on the scale of Halo — which famously sold the original Xbox — or GoldenEye for the N64, or Zelda: Breath of the Wild for the Switch.
—
Sean Hollister, The Verge, 26 Sep. 2023
The biggest letdown is there still doesn’t appear to be a killer app to take advantage of the Quest 3’s mixed reality capabilities.
—Chris Velazco, Washington Post, 27 Sep. 2023
This transformation gained momentum in 1455, when reading found its killer app in Johann Gutenberg’s printing press.
—A.o. Scott, New York Times, 21 June 2023
That, coupled with the lack of a killer app, suggest the Reality Pro will benefit Apple more as a reason to lure customers into the demo area at the company’s retail stores than as a business on the level of the iPhone.
—Casey Newton, The Verge, 2 June 2023
Like Facebook’s rise after the dot-com bubble burst, the killer app for Web3 may not have even been invented yet.
—Adam Kovacevich, Fortune, 1 May 2023
Agrawal identifies the killer app for AI in contracting as helping businesses manage risk.
—Joe McKendrick, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2023
However, the killer app has still alluded us, until now.
—Michael Gale, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2023
The Cold War was the killer app.
—The Politics Of Everything, The New Republic, 1 Mar. 2023
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Sean Hollister, The Verge, 26 Sep. 2023
The biggest letdown is there still doesn’t appear to be a killer app to take advantage of the Quest 3’s mixed reality capabilities.
—Chris Velazco, Washington Post, 27 Sep. 2023
This transformation gained momentum in 1455, when reading found its killer app in Johann Gutenberg’s printing press.
—A.o. Scott, New York Times, 21 June 2023
That, coupled with the lack of a killer app, suggest the Reality Pro will benefit Apple more as a reason to lure customers into the demo area at the company’s retail stores than as a business on the level of the iPhone.
—Casey Newton, The Verge, 2 June 2023
Like Facebook’s rise after the dot-com bubble burst, the killer app for Web3 may not have even been invented yet.
—Adam Kovacevich, Fortune, 1 May 2023
Agrawal identifies the killer app for AI in contracting as helping businesses manage risk.
—Joe McKendrick, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2023
However, the killer app has still alluded us, until now.
—Michael Gale, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2023
The Cold War was the killer app.
—The Politics Of Everything, The New Republic, 1 Mar. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'killer app.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1988, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near killer app
Cite this Entry
“Killer app.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/killer%20app. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.
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