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

The object being managed expands from the team to the human-agent operating system. — Keith Ferrazzi, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026

While Microsoft Windows is the most popular operating system for PCs, the company isn't among the top six PC vendors in terms of unit shipments, according to an estimate from researcher Gartner. — Jordan Novet, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026

And most notably, in 2024, a software update for Microsoft Windows operating systems issued by the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike brought systems down at businesses around the world. — Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026

Six months of war and AI fever have added urgency to the rollout of Genesis, an operating system AIQ is piloting to pitch to energy companies. — semafor.com, 2 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)