# continuous integration

CEFR C1 · Compound

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/continuous-integration
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Definition

a way of working on software where developers add their code to a shared project many times a day. Each time code is added, an automatic system tests it to make sure nothing is broken.

For teachers: a software development practice where members of a team integrate their work frequently, usually daily, leading to multiple integrations per day. Each integration is verified by an automated build and automated tests to detect integration errors as quickly as possible.

## Examples

- Our team uses continuous integration to catch bugs early in the project.
- By implementing continuous integration, the startup reduced the time spent on manual testing and improved the stability of their weekly releases.
- The transition to continuous integration required a cultural shift toward smaller, more frequent commits and a robust suite of automated unit tests to ensure the integrity of the main branch.

## Usage notes

- Often abbreviated as CI; frequently paired with 'continuous delivery' or 'continuous deployment' (CD).

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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.