Meanings
nounapplication (countable and uncountable, plural applications)
plural applications
- countableuncountableThe substance applied.
His body was stripped, laid out upon a table, and covered with a hearsecloth, when some of his attendants perceived symptoms of returning animation, and by the use of warm applications, internal and external, gradually restored him to life.
1857, John Eadie, John Francis Waller, William John Macquorn Rankine, The Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography - countableuncountableThe act of applying as a means; the employment of means to accomplish an end; specific use.
What sets fiber lasers apart is their ability to mark (engrave) metal, which opens up a range of possibilities as a complement to woodworking. Brass nameplates for awards or plaques are an obvious application, but it goes further than that.
2026 August 28, Logan Wittmer, “Omtech 60W Autofocus MOPA Fiber Laser”, in Popular Woodworking, volume 290, number 4, page 101 more example
All that I have hitherto contended for, is, that whatsoever rigor is necessary, it is more to be us'd, the younger children are; and having by a due application wrought its effect, it is to be relax'd, and chang'd into a milder sort of government.
1693, [John Locke], “§43”, in Some Thoughts Concerning Education, London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], →OCLC - countableuncountableThe act of directing or referring something to a particular case, to discover or illustrate agreement or disagreement, fitness, or correspondence.
I make the remark, and leave you to make the application.
1 more example
The application of a theory to a set of data can be challenging.
- countableuncountablecomputingA computer program or the set of software that the end user perceives as a single entity as a tool for a well-defined purpose. (Also called: application program; application software.)
This application can connect to most social networks.
1 more example
Saeed straightened and held up his phone, directing its camera at the heavens, consulting an application that indicated the names of celestial bodies he did not know.
2017, Mohsin Hamid, Exit West, Hamish Hamilton, page 15 - countableuncountableA verbal or written request for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar.
December 31 is the deadline for MBA applications.
- countableuncountableThe act of requesting, claiming, or petitioning something.
- countableuncountableDiligence; close thought or attention.
- countableuncountableA kind of needlework; appliqué.
- countableuncountablecomputingThe substitution of a specific value for the parameter in the abstraction, in lambda calculus.
- countableobsoleteuncountableCompliance.
Synonyms & antonyms
Narrower
array applicationaspect-oriented applicationasynchronous applicationattribute-oriented applicationclass-based applicationclassless applicationcommand-line interface applicationconcept applicationconcurrent applicationconsole applicationconstraint applicationdata-driven applicationdataflow applicationdata-oriented applicationdata structure applicationdecision table applicationdeclarative applicationdefensive applicationdual-paradigm applicationdynamically-typed applicationdynamic applicationembeddable applicationend-user applicationevent-based applicationevent-driven applicationevolutionary applicationflow-based applicationfunctional applicationgeneric applicationgraphical user interface applicationimperative applicationinstance-based applicationiterative applicationjob applicationlanguage-oriented applicationlist-based applicationlogic-based applicationmachine applicationmacro applicationmathematical application
nounthe act of bringing something to bear; using it for a particular purpose
Similar
practical application
Broader
nouna program that gives a computer instructions that provide the user with tools to accomplish a task
Similar
application programapplications programme
nounliquid preparation having a soothing or antiseptic or medicinal action when applied to the skin
Similar
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Proto-Indo-European*h₂éd
- Proto-Italic*ad
- Proto-Italic*ad-
- Latinad-
- Proto-Indo-European*pel-
- Proto-Indo-European*pleḱ-
- Latinplicō
- Latinapplicō
- Latinapplicātiō
- Old Frenchaplicacion
- Middle Englishapplicacioun
- Englishapplication
From Late Middle English applicacioun, borrowed from Old French aplicacion (French application), from Latin applicātiōnem, accusative singular of applicātiō (“attachment; application, inclination”), from applicō (“join to, attach; apply”). Equivalent to apply + -ication.
More words from Middle English, Old French, Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Afrikaans aanvraag, toepassing
- aanvraagthe act of physically applying or laying on
- toepassinga computer program
- applikasiea computer program
Ancient Greek πρόσθεσις
- πρόσθεσις (prósthesis)the act of physically applying or laying on
Arabic تَطْبِيق, تَطْبِيق
- تَطْبِيق (taṭbīq)the act of physically applying or laying on
- تَطْبِيق (taṭbīq)a computer program
- كِتَاب (kitāb)a verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
- اِسْتِمَارَة (istimāra)a verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
- طَلَب (ṭalab)a verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
Bulgarian приложе́ние, употре́ба
- приложе́ние (priložénie)the act of physically applying or laying on
- употре́ба (upotréba)the act of physically applying or laying on
- приложи́мост (priložímost)the act of directing or referring something to a particular case
- приложе́ние (priložénie)a computer program
- програ́ма (prográma)a computer program
- заявле́ние (zajavlénie)a verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
- молба́ (molbá)a verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
- молба (molba)(bureaucracy, law) a petition, entreaty, or other request, with the adposition for denoting the subject matter
Catalan aplicació, aplicació
- aplicacióthe act of physically applying or laying on
- aplicacióthe thing applied
- aplicacióthe act of applying as a means
- aplicacióa computer program
- sol·licituda verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
Chinese Cantonese 應用 /应用
- 應用 /应用 (jing³ jung⁶)the act of physically applying or laying on
Chinese Mandarin 應用 /应用, 應用程序 /应用程序
- 應用 /应用 (yìngyòng)the act of physically applying or laying on
- 應用程序 /应用程序 (yìngyòng chéngxù)a computer program
- 應用程式 /应用程式 (yìngyòng chéngshì)a computer program
- 申請 /申请 (shēnqǐng)a verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
- 請求 /请求 (qǐngqiú)a verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
Czech aplikace, přihláška
- aplikacea computer program
- přihláškaa verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
- žádosta verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
Danish applikation, applicering
- applikationthe act of physically applying or laying on
- appliceringthe act of physically applying or laying on
- ansøgninga verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
Dutch aanbrengen, toepassing
- aanbrengenthe act of physically applying or laying on
- toepassingthe thing applied
- toepassingthe act of applying as a means
- toepassing in de praktijkthe act of directing or referring something to a particular case
- computerprogrammaa computer program
- softwarepakketa computer program
- toepassinga computer program
- applicatiea computer program
- aanschrijvena verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
- aanvraaga verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
- sollicitatiea verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
Esperanto aplikaĵo, kandidateco
- aplikaĵoa computer program
- kandidatecoa verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
Estonian rakendus, taotlus
- rakendusa computer program
- taotlusa verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
Finnish siveleminen, levittäminen
- siveleminenthe act of physically applying or laying on
- levittäminenthe act of physically applying or laying on
- käyttöthe act of physically applying or laying on
- menetelmäthe thing applied
- sovellusthe thing applied
- soveltaminenthe act of applying as a means
- käyttöthe act of applying as a means
- soveltaminenthe act of directing or referring something to a particular case
- sovellusa computer program
- hakemusa verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
- anomusa verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
French application, application
- applicationthe act of physically applying or laying on
- applicationthe thing applied
- applicationthe act of applying as a means
- applicationthe act of directing or referring something to a particular case
- applicationa computer program
- programmea computer program
- candidaturea verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
- demandea verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
German Anwendung, Anwendung
- Anwendungthe act of physically applying or laying on
- Anwendungthe act of applying as a means
- Anwendungthe act of directing or referring something to a particular case
- Anwendunga computer program
- Applikationa computer program
- Appa computer program
- Antraga verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
- Bewerbunga verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
- Antrag(bureaucracy, law) a petition, entreaty, or other request, with the adposition for denoting the subject matter
- Beantragenthe act of requesting, claiming, petitioning something
- Beantragungthe act of requesting, claiming, petitioning something
Greek εφαρμογή, χρήση
- εφαρμογή (efarmogí)the act of physically applying or laying on
- χρήση (chrísi)the act of physically applying or laying on
- εφαρμογή (efarmogí)the thing applied
- εφαρμογή (efarmogí)the act of directing or referring something to a particular case
- εφαρμογή (efarmogí)a computer program
- πρόγραμμα (prógramma)a computer program
- αίτηση (aítisi)a verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
Hebrew יישום \ יִשּׂוּם, החלה
- יישום \ יִשּׂוּם (yisúm)the act of physically applying or laying on
- החלה (hekhalá)the act of physically applying or laying on
- תחולה (tkhulá)the act of physically applying or laying on
- יישום \ יִשּׂוּם (yisúm)the thing applied
- יישום \ יִשּׂוּם (yisúm)the act of applying as a means
- שימוש (shimúsh)the act of applying as a means
- יישום \ יִשּׂוּם (yisúm)the act of directing or referring something to a particular case
- יישום \ יִשּׂוּם (yisúm)a computer program
- אַפְּלִיקַצְיָה (aplikátsya)a computer program
- תׇּכְנָה (tokhná)a computer program
- בַּקָּשָׁה (bakashá)a verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
- עֲתִירָה (atirá)a verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
Hindi ऍप्लिकेशन, आवेदन
- ऍप्लिकेशन (ĕplikeśan)a computer program
- आवेदन (āvedan)a verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
- अर्ज़ी (arzī)a verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
Hungarian rávitel, bevonás
- rávitelthe act of physically applying or laying on
- bevonásthe act of physically applying or laying on
- felvitelthe act of physically applying or laying on
- felhordásthe act of physically applying or laying on
- bevonatthe thing applied
- alkalmazásthe act of applying as a means
- felhasználásthe act of applying as a means
- használatthe act of applying as a means
- igénybevételthe act of applying as a means
- alkalmazásthe act of directing or referring something to a particular case
- alkalmazása computer program
- appa computer program
Icelandic forrit, tölvuforrit
- forrita computer program
- tölvuforrita computer program
- umsókna verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
Indonesian permintaan, pengajuan
- permintaanthe act of applying as a means
- pengajuanthe act of applying as a means
- amprahthe act of applying as a means
- aplikasia computer program
- pendaftarana verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
Irish feidhmchlár, iarratas
- feidhmchlára computer program
- iarratasa verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
Italian applicazione, applicazione
- applicazionethe act of physically applying or laying on
- applicazionethe act of applying as a means
- impiegothe act of directing or referring something to a particular case
- applicazionea computer program
- applicativoa computer program
- programmaa computer program
- candidaturaa verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
Japanese アプリケーション, アプリ
- アプリケーション (apurikēshon)a computer program
- アプリ (apuri)a computer program
- 応募 (ōbo)a verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
- 出願 (shutsugan)a verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
- 申し込み (mōshikomi)a verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
- 申請 (shinsei)a verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
Korean 응용, 애플리케이션
- 응용 (eung'yong)the act of physically applying or laying on
- 애플리케이션 (aepeullikeisyeon)the act of physically applying or laying on
- 적용물 (jeogyongmul)the thing applied
- 응용 (eung'yong)the act of applying as a means
- 적용 (jeogyong)the act of directing or referring something to a particular case
- 애플리케이션 (aepeullikeisyeon)a computer program
- 앱 (aep)a computer program
- 신청 (sincheong)a verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
- 신청서 (sincheongseo)(bureaucracy, law) a petition, entreaty, or other request, with the adposition for denoting the subject matter
- 청원 (cheong'won)the act of requesting, claiming, petitioning something
- 전념 (jeonnyeom)diligence; close thought or attention
Latvian aplikācija, lietotne
- aplikācijaa computer program
- lietotnea computer program
- lietojumprogrammatūraa computer program
- pieteikumsa verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
Lithuanian programėlė, prašymas
- programėlėa computer program
- prašymasa verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
Malay pemakaian, aplikasi
- pemakaianthe act of physically applying or laying on
- aplikasia computer program
Māori taupānga, tono
- taupāngaa computer program
- tonoa verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
Norwegian Bokmål applikasjon, program
- applikasjona computer program
- programa computer program
- søknada verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
Polish aplikacja, aplikacja
- aplikacjathe act of physically applying or laying on
- aplikacjathe act of applying as a means
- stosowaniethe act of applying as a means
- zastosowaniethe act of applying as a means
- aplikacjathe act of directing or referring something to a particular case
- aplikacjaa computer program
- program komputerowya computer program
- wnioseka verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
- aplikacjaa verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
- aplikacja(bureaucracy, law) a petition, entreaty, or other request, with the adposition for denoting the subject matter
Portuguese aplicação, aplicação
- aplicaçãothe act of physically applying or laying on
- aplicaçãothe thing applied
- aplicaçãothe act of applying as a means
- aplicaçãothe act of directing or referring something to a particular case
- aplicativoa computer program
- aplicaçãoa computer program
- inscriçãoa verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
- candidaturaa verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
Romanian aplicare, aplicație
- aplicarethe act of physically applying or laying on
- aplicațiethe thing applied
- aplicațiethe act of applying as a means
- aplicațiea computer program
Russian примене́ние, приложе́ние
- примене́ние (primenénije)the act of physically applying or laying on
- приложе́ние (priložénije)the act of physically applying or laying on
- примене́ние (primenénije)the act of applying as a means
- примене́ние (primenénije)the act of directing or referring something to a particular case
- приложе́ние (priložénije)a computer program
- програ́мма (prográmma)a computer program
- заявле́ние (zajavlénije)a verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
- хода́тайство (xodátajstvo)a verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
- про́сьба (prósʹba)a verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
- проше́ние (prošénije)a verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
- зая́вка (zajávka)a verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
- обраще́ние (obraščénije)a verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
Scottish Gaelic cleachdadh, iarrtas
- cleachdadha computer program
- iarrtasa verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
Slovak aplikácia, žiadosť
- aplikáciaa computer program
- žiadosťa verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
Spanish aplicación, aplicación
- aplicaciónthe act of physically applying or laying on
- aplicaciónthe thing applied
- aplicaciónthe act of applying as a means
- aplicacióna computer program
- aplicativoa computer program
- solicituda verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
- aplicacióna verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
Swedish applikation, applicering
- applikationthe act of physically applying or laying on
- appliceringthe act of physically applying or laying on
- applikationa computer program
- programvaraa computer program
- ansökana verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
Tagalog salapat
- salapatthe act of physically applying or laying on
Tamil தடவு, நீவு
- தடவு (taṭavu)the act of physically applying or laying on
- நீவு (nīvu)the act of physically applying or laying on
- போடு (pōṭu)the act of physically applying or laying on
- தடவல் (taṭaval)the act of physically applying or laying on
- செயலி (ceyali)a computer program
- நிரல் (niral)a computer program
- விண்ணப்பம் (viṇṇappam)a verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
- மனு (maṉu)(bureaucracy, law) a petition, entreaty, or other request, with the adposition for denoting the subject matter
- தாக்கல் (tākkal)the act of requesting, claiming, petitioning something
- விண்ணப்பி (viṇṇappi)the act of requesting, claiming, petitioning something
Thai แอปพลิเคชัน, แอป
- แอปพลิเคชัน (ɛ́p-plì-kee-chân)a computer program
- แอป (ɛ́p)a computer program
- โปรแกรมประยุกต์a computer program
Turkish başvuru, müracaat
- başvuruthe act of physically applying or laying on
- müracaatthe act of physically applying or laying on
- dilekçethe act of physically applying or laying on
- tatbikthe act of applying as a means
- uygulamathe act of applying as a means
- tatbikthe act of directing or referring something to a particular case
- uygulamathe act of directing or referring something to a particular case
- uygulamaa computer program
- dilekçea verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
Ukrainian застосува́ння, вжива́ння
- застосува́ння (zastosuvánnja)the act of applying as a means
- вжива́ння (vžyvánnja)the act of applying as a means
- застосува́ння (zastosuvánnja)the act of directing or referring something to a particular case
- вжива́ння (vžyvánnja)the act of directing or referring something to a particular case
- застосу́нок (zastosúnok)a computer program
- дода́ток (dodátok)a computer program
- програ́ма (prohráma)a computer program
- зая́ва (zajáva)a verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
- зая́вка (zajávka)a verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
- зве́рнення (zvérnennja)a verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
- проха́ння (proxánnja)a verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
- про́сьба (prósʹba)a verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
Urdu اطلاق, عَرْضی
- اطلاق (itlāq)a computer program
- عَرْضی ('arzī)a verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
- عَرِیضَہ ('arīza)a verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
Vietnamese áp dụng, ứng dụng
- áp dụngthe act of physically applying or laying on
- ứng dụngthe act of physically applying or laying on
- ứng dụnga computer program
- đơn xina verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
- đơna verbal or written request, especially for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with application
informationeducationlocationassociationadministrationorganizationcorporationregistrationAsianfoundationcommunicationpopulationnavigationstationaccommodationoperationpublicationvacationtransportationevaluationimplementationinstallationnationdocumentation
All rhymes →Cite this entry
APA
application. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/application
MLA
“application.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/application. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “application,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/application.
Source: application on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.