Screensaver
noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A computer program that displays aesthetic patterns or images when the computer is not being used, originally intended to prevent screenburn.
"I configured my screensaver to appear after only two minutes, because I enjoyed watching it so much."
- 2 The background picture of a computer, smartphone, or similar mobile device. proscribed
"But she changed her screensaver, which was a photo of Julian eating scrambled eggs—he was smiling, holding his fork away from himself, as if he were waving the eggs at her—and replaced it with a photo of Olivia, looking up from her desk […]"
Example
More examples"I configured my screensaver to appear after only two minutes, because I enjoyed watching it so much."
Etymology
From screen + saver.
Related phrases
More for "screensaver"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.