# cloud native

CEFR C1 · Compound

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cloud-native
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Definition

describing software or apps that are built specifically to run on the internet and use modern server technology. These programs are designed to be flexible and easy to update without stopping the whole system.

For teachers: relating to an approach in software development where applications are specifically designed to reside and operate in a cloud computing environment. Often used to describe systems that leverage microservices, containers, and dynamic orchestration to achieve scalability and resilience.

## Examples

- Our company is moving to a cloud native architecture.
- By adopting a cloud native strategy, the startup was able to scale its user base from thousands to millions without buying physical servers.
- The transition to cloud native infrastructure allows engineering teams to deploy updates independently through microservices, significantly reducing the risk of a single point of failure during high-traffic events.

## Pitfalls

- Not "the software is cloud-native" but "the software is cloud native" — While often hyphenated when used before a noun, the hyphen is usually dropped when the term follows a linking verb in technical writing.

## Usage notes

- Typically used as a compound adjective before a noun; often appears without a hyphen in technical documentation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.