user interface

noun

plural user interfaces

: software that is designed to allow a computer user to interact with the operating system of a machine or system (such as by selecting presented options or entering text commands)

Likewise, the user interface is remarkably unintuitive, requiring a whirlwind of relentless mouse clicking to move, talk, touch, look, or manipulate onscreen objects.

—Scott A. May

… a new user interface he vows will change the way people use computers.

—InfoWorld

especially : graphical user interface

—abbreviation UI

Examples of user interface in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Over the past few months, Apple has lost a slew of other executives, including user interface chief Alan Dye and head of environment and government affairs Lisa Jackson. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2026

ColorOS includes Oppo's Free-Flow Window user interface. —Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 17 Mar. 2026

The Scayle platform enables B2C brands and retailers to create unique, scalable customer experiences globally all unified within one intuitive user interface. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 16 Mar. 2026

Take generative user interfaces, which designers can use to dynamically generate an interface in minutes. —Debaleena Chattopadhyay, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1967, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for user interface

• asparaginase
• dehydrogenase
• lipoxygenase
• abase
• airspace
• apace
• backspace
• biface
• birthplace
• blackface
• boldface
• bookcase

Kids Definition

user interface

noun

: software that is designed to allow a computer user to interact with the operating system of a machine or system

especially : graphical user interface