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Definition of screensaver

screensaver

/ˈskriːnˌseɪv.ər/
screen · sav · er
Plural:screensavers
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screensaver Lexical Profile

screensaver Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A computer program that blanks the screen or fills it with moving images or patterns when the computer is not in use, originally designed to prevent phosphor burn-in on older monitors.

Example

"After ten minutes of inactivity, the office monitor switched to a screensaver showing tropical fish."

Word Nuance & Usage

In casual usage, "screensaver" is frequently confused with "wallpaper" or "desktop background"; a screensaver only activates when a device is idle, whereas wallpaper remains visible behind icons during active use.

• Nearby Words

screenplay
screenprint
screenprinting
screensaver
screenshot
screentime
screenwash

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 1980s as a compound of "screen" and "saver," referring to utility software originally designed to prevent phosphor burn-in on cathode-ray tube (CRT) monitors by blanking or animating the display.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Screensaver. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/screensaver
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