# UNIX

/ˈjunɪks/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/unix
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

a powerful computer operating system that was created in the 1970s. It is famous for being very stable and for influencing how modern systems like Linux and macOS work.

For teachers: a multi-user, multitasking operating system originally developed at Bell Labs. It is characterised by its modular design, hierarchical file system, and use of plain text for data storage.

## Examples

- The server runs on a version of UNIX.
- Many early internet technologies were built on UNIX systems because they were designed for networking and stability.
- The philosophy behind UNIX emphasizes the creation of small, modular programs that perform a single task efficiently and can be linked together to solve complex computational problems.

## Usage notes

- Often capitalised as UNIX or written as Unix; treated as uncountable when referring to the system type and countable when referring to specific versions.

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