English Reference
Adjective

user friendly

adj.
B1 Intermediate Computing

adj.easy to use or understand, especially when talking about a computer, machine, or website. You use this to describe things that are designed well for the person using them.

adj.designed to be easy for a person to operate or understand. Typically describes software, hardware, or complex systems that prioritise the needs and capabilities of the end user.


SIMPLE

The new app is very user-friendly.

CONTEXTUAL

The company redesigned its website to be more user-friendly, making it easier for customers to find the help section.

COMPLEX

While the previous software required extensive technical training, the updated interface is remarkably user-friendly, allowing even novice employees to navigate the database with minimal supervision.

Usage

Typically used attributively before a noun or predicatively after a linking verb like 'is' or 'seems'.

Pitfall
The system is user-friendlily.The system is user-friendly.

Learners sometimes try to turn this compound adjective into an adverb, but 'user-friendly' is used as the complement after 'is'.


Formed from the noun user and the adjective friendly. The term emerged in the 1970s as part of a linguistic pattern of appending -friendly to nouns to denote compatibility or ease of access.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
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