# Dev

/ˈdɛv/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dev
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a software developer

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · Technical

a person who writes computer software or apps.

For teachers: a clipping of 'developer', referring to a software engineer or programmer.

- The lead dev is working on a fix for the login bug.
- The senior dev suggested refactoring the legacy code to improve the application's overall performance and maintainability.

Usage: Commonly used in professional tech environments and online communities.

### 2. the process of development

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · Technical

the work of creating or improving software.

For teachers: a clipping of 'development', referring to the process or environment of building software.

- This feature is still in dev and won't be ready until next month.
- The project was stuck in dev for six months due to shifting requirements and a lack of clear documentation.

Usage: Often used in the phrase 'in dev'.

### 3. a hardware device

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a piece of computer equipment or a specific part of a system.

For teachers: a clipping of 'device', frequently appearing in Unix-like operating systems to represent hardware files.

- You can find the connected printer in the dev folder of the system.
- The administrator checked the dev directory to ensure the new storage volume was correctly recognised by the kernel.

Usage: Primarily used in the context of file paths like /dev/.

## Examples

- The lead dev is working on a fix for the bug.
- Our company is looking to hire a senior dev with experience in mobile apps.
- While the marketing team focused on the launch event, the devs spent the weekend refactoring the legacy codebase to ensure the servers could handle the expected traffic spike.

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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.