tablet

noun

tab·​let ˈta-blət 

1

a

: a flat slab or plaque suited for or bearing an inscription

b

: a thin slab or one of a set of portable sheets used for writing

c

: pad entry 1 sense 2

2

a

: a small mass of medicated material

an aspirin tablet

b

: a compressed or molded block of a solid material

3

a

or tablet computer : a mobile computing device that has a flat, rectangular form like that of a magazine or pad of paper, that is usually controlled by means of a touch screen, and that is typically used for accessing the Internet, watching videos, playing games, reading electronic books, etc.

b

: graphics tablet

Synonyms

• notepad
• pad

Examples of tablet in a Sentence

you'll need to use your writing tablet to record all the information that the real estate agent is likely to reel off

take two tablets of the medication every eight hours

Recent Examples on the Web

Another great choice for kids ages 3 to 7, this 8-inch tablet offers all the perks of other devices designed with little ones in mind, including easy-to-use parental controls, a one-year subscription to Amazon Kids+ and a two-year worry-free guarantee. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2025

Something Brea has been lacking for quite a while are more fun places for kids to go and have fun instead of sitting around glued to their phones or tablets. —Terri Daxon, Oc Register, 18 June 2025

Your smartphone or tablet can be one of the easiest ways to play classic games, and Sega has historically been good at putting many of its retro titles on both Android and iPhone. —James Peckham, PC Magazine, 18 June 2025

The devices promise the screen size of a tablet in a format that can be stored in pants pockets. —Kif Leswing, CNBC, 18 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English tablett, from Anglo-French tablet, diminutive of table table

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing tablet

• digitizing tablet
• graphics tablet

Kids Definition

tablet

noun

tab·​let ˈtab-lət 

1

a

: a flat slab suited for an inscription

b

: pad entry 2 sense 4

2

a

: a compressed or molded block of a solid material

b

: a small usually round mass of material containing medicine

aspirin tablet

3

a

: graphics tablet

b

or tablet computer : a mobile computing device that has a flat rectangular form, is usually controlled by means of a touch screen, and is typically used for accessing the Internet, watching videos, and reading e-books

Medical Definition

tablet

noun

tab·​let ˈtab-lət 

: a small mass of medicated material (as in the shape of a disk)

an aspirin tablet