operating system

noun

: software that controls the operation of a computer and directs the processing of programs (as by assigning storage space in memory and controlling input and output functions)

Examples of operating system in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Rory Nguyen, software engineer, left, and Liam Wilson, client advisory, work on imbuing computer devices with life, installing operating systems onto computer devices, at the office of Go. — Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026

Samsung notes that some AI features are built into the operating system and cannot be disabled. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2026

Apple, Google and Microsoft’s operating systems all support passkeys. — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026

On the topic of macOS, that operating system has far more years of development under its belt and is arguably an inspiration for Googlebook OS. — Joe Osborne, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1961, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for operating system

• cryptosystem
• ecosystem
• intersystem
• multisystem
• photosystem
• subsystem

Kids Definition

operating system

noun

: software that controls the operation of a computer and directs the processing of the user's programs (as by controlling input and output functions)