networking

noun net·work·ing \ ˈnet-ˌwər-kiŋ \

Updated on: 12 Apr 2018

Definition of networking

1 : the exchange of information or services among individuals, groups, or institutions; specifically : the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or business

… networking remains the No. 1 cause of job attainment …
—Hal Lancaster

2 : the establishment or use of a computer network

He has extensive experience in computer networking and information security.

Recent Examples of networking from the Web

Match Group, the company that holds a large portfolio of dating services, such as Tinder, Match.com, OkCupid, PlentyOfFish, to name a few, and was in talks last year to purchase dating and professional networking service Bumble.

— andrew liptak, The Verge, "Tinder’s parent company is suing Bumble for patent infringement," 18 Mar. 2018
These implicit advantages include role models, mentors, community, connections, networking, experiential learning, leadership opportunities.

— WSJ, "There’s No Need for Women To Lag in the STEM World," 15 Mar. 2018
There is no charge for the event, which will feature networking, appetizers, a cash bar, a free Salsa class and dancing.

— Post-Tribune, "Community news," 9 Mar. 2018
Mr Durov struck gold with VKontakte, a Russian social-networking site, though he was later forced out of both the company and the country after clashing with the government over data privacy.

— The Economist, "Crypto for the massesTelegram’s initial coin offering is hot but controversial," 1 Feb. 2018
Marketed as the world's largest professional network with over 530,000,000 users in 200+ countries and territories, LinkedIn has become the overwhelming favorite for professional networking and job recruiting.

— rob weinberg, Pomerado News, "Mr. Marketing: I'd never hire this guy," 21 Mar. 2018
The 8 Funniest Facebook Spoofs on YouTube To tie in with our front-page package about Facebook─happy birthday, guys!─NEWSWEEK's Sarah Frank picks the top spoofs of the social-networking site that YouTube has to offer.

— Newsweek, "Amazing Photos of Bioluminescent Phytoplankton," 14 Mar. 2018
Broadcom, which sells a diverse line of equipment for networking and communications, made an initial offer to buy chip maker Qualcomm in November.

— allison prang and cara lombardo, WSJ, "Qualcomm Names New Chairman as Broadcom Pushes Case for Takeover," 9 Mar. 2018
Renting office space at WeWork connects users with others at WeWork spaces worldwide in a global online community for networking, collaborations and team building.

— robert horn, Fortune, "Design Is All About Connecting People, says Miguel McKelvey of WeWork," 7 Mar. 2018

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