# daemon

/ˈdeɪmən/ (US) · /dˈiːmən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/daemon
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. computing process

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a computer program that runs in the background without you needing to interact with it.

For teachers: a background process in a Unix-like operating system that performs system tasks without direct user intervention.

- The print daemon handles all the documents waiting to be printed.
- The system administrator configured the HTTP daemon to restart automatically whenever the server experienced a memory spike.

Usage: Often used as a suffix in technical names, such as 'httpd' or 'sshd', where the 'd' stands for daemon.

### 2. mythology

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

a spirit or minor god in ancient Greek religion, often acting as a guide between gods and humans.

For teachers: a minor deity or supernatural being in classical Greek mythology, occupying a middle ground between gods and mortals.

- In the old stories, a daemon might guide a hero toward his fate.
- Socrates famously claimed to be guided by a personal daemon, a divine voice that warned him against making errors in judgment.

### 3. archaic spelling of demon

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

an old way of spelling 'demon', meaning an evil spirit.

For teachers: an archaic variant spelling of 'demon', occasionally retained in modern literature to evoke a classical or non-Christian context.

- The old book described a daemon that lived in the dark forest.
- The author chose the spelling 'daemon' to distinguish the ancient, morally ambiguous spirits from the purely evil demons of later folklore.

## Examples

- The server runs a daemon to handle incoming emails.
- System administrators often check the status of the print daemon to ensure that all printers are functioning correctly.
- Modern operating systems rely on a suite of daemons to manage everything from network connectivity to hardware monitoring, ensuring the system remains stable even when no user is logged in.

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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.