lock screen

noun

plural lock screens

: a graphical user interface displayed by a device (such as a computer or smartphone) that prevents access to most functions of the device until a certain action (such as swiping one's finger across the screen or entering a predetermined code) is performed

Speaking of locking your phone, Android typically shows notifications on your lock screen by default—which means the contents of messages you receive might be visible to anyone who looks at your device, even if they can't unlock it.

—JR Raphael

Examples of lock screen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Consider this: if users can readily obtain answers from their iPhone's lock screen or through Siri without needing to open a browser, Google's role in the information access process diminishes significantly. —Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025

On Wednesday evening, a particularly enticing one from the Times flashed across millions of lock screens. —Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 18 Apr. 2025

From similar lock screens to being in lockstep, Prince Harry and Princess Eugenie have long been known to share a tight bond. —Janine Henni, People.com, 18 Apr. 2025

Apple on Thursday also rolled out a new feature that lets users turn off AI summaries for any app by swiping left on the notification from the phone’s lock screen. —Kif Leswing, CNBC, 17 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1991, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for lock screen

• agin
• alkene
• allene
• ameen
• amin
• amine
• arene
• athene
• baleen
• beeline
• benzene
• between