browser

American  

[brou-zer] / ˈbraʊ zər /

noun

1. a person or thing that browses.

2. Digital Technology. a software program that allows the user to find and read encoded documents in a form suitable for display, especially such a program for use on the internet.

   You may need to pause internet security features and refresh the page in your web browser to play the embedded videos.

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browser British  

/ ˈbraʊzə /

noun

1. a person or animal that browses

2. computing a software package that enables a user to find and read hypertext files, esp on the Internet

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browser Scientific  

/ brou′zər /

1. A program that accesses and displays files and other data available on the Internet and other networks. Entering a website's URL in the address window of a browser will bring up that website in the browser's main window.

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browser Cultural  

1. See Web browser.

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Other Word Forms

• nonbrowser noun

Etymology

Origin of browser

browse ( def. ) + -er ¹ ( def. ); browser def. 1 was first recorded in 1680–90, and browser def. 2 in 1980–85

Explanation

A browser is a looker: either a program that lets you surf the Internet or a person in a store who just looks around without buying. This is a word that has to do with looking around, otherwise known as browsing. You probably use web browsers, which allow you to see websites on a computer. But you could also be a browser if you go to a store and just look around. Being a browser is a good way to kill time, but as soon as you make a purchase, you've gone from being a browser to being a customer.

Example Sentences

A user’s browser or app replaces physical credit numbers with a unique virtual card number, which hides personal payment card details from the merchant and protects against fraud.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

The trick of using an incognito browser to find cheaper airfare is unlikely to yield major savings because airlines have sophisticated ways of identifying stored cookies and users’ locations.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 20, 2026

Back button hijacking is when a website interferes with a browser so the back button no longer takes users to the previous page, instead often keeping them on the site or presenting unsolicited ads.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

Anyone can access the stations via a browser or the mobile app each radio station now has.

From Slate • Apr. 12, 2026

He opened a browser and typed in the name of the city.

From "The Parker Inheritance" by Varian Johnson