# serverless

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

## Senses

### 1. cloud computing model

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

describing a way to run software where the cloud provider manages the servers for you.

For teachers: referring to a cloud computing architecture where the provider dynamically allocates machine resources on demand, abstracting infrastructure management from the user.

- The company moved to a serverless architecture to save money on maintenance.
- By adopting a serverless approach, the engineering team eliminated the need for manual scaling and reduced operational overhead during peak traffic periods.

### 2. without a central server

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

describing a network where computers talk directly to each other without a main central computer.

For teachers: describing a network topology or software architecture that lacks a central server, typically relying on peer-to-peer communication.

- The two devices used a serverless connection to share files directly.
- The protocol was designed to be entirely serverless, allowing nodes to discover each other and synchronise data without a central authority.

## Examples

- We moved our website to a serverless platform to save money.
- By adopting a serverless architecture, the startup scaled its application to millions of users without hiring a dedicated infrastructure team.
- The transition to serverless computing allowed the engineering department to focus exclusively on feature development, as the cloud provider handled all scaling, patching, and hardware management automatically.

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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.