kernel panic

noun

On Unix-derived operating systems, an action taken by the operating system when it cannot recover from a fatal error, where the system halts, displays an error, and dumps kernel memory to disk.

Similar
panic
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nounkernel panic (plural kernel panics)

plural kernel panics

  1. computingOn Unix-derived operating systems, an action taken by the operating system when it cannot recover from a fatal error, where the system halts, displays an error, and dumps kernel memory to disk.

    If the timer doesn't get updated, watchdog will notice and force a kernel panic.

    2005, Karl Kopper, The Linux Enterprise Cluster, No Starch Press, →ISBN, page 178

    Synonyms: panic

Synonyms & antonyms

nounOn Unix-derived operating systems, an action taken by the operating system when it cannot recover from a fatal error, where the system halts, displays an error, and dumps kernel memory to disk.

Similar
panic

Translations

Japanese カーネルパニック
  • カーネルパニック (kāneru panikku)action taken by the operating system when it cannot recover from a fatal error
Korean 커널 패닉
  • 커널 패닉 (keoneol paenik)action taken by the operating system when it cannot recover from a fatal error
Polish kernel panic
  • kernel panicaction taken by the operating system when it cannot recover from a fatal error
Cite this entry
APA

kernel panic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kernel%20panic

MLA

“kernel panic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kernel%20panic. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “kernel panic,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kernel%20panic.

Source: kernel panic on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.