English Reference
noun

user ID

n.

  1. 01 A2 Elementary Computing

    a unique name you use to identify yourself when logging into a website or app.

    a unique alphanumeric string used to identify a specific individual during the authentication process on a digital platform.

    Simple

    Please enter your user ID and password to access your bank account.

    In context

    The system administrator requested that all employees update their user ID to follow the new security protocol for remote access.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Computing

    a unique number that a computer system uses to track a specific person.

    a unique numeric identifier assigned by an operating system or database to distinguish between different accounts.

    Simple

    The database uses a unique user ID to keep track of every customer's orders.

    In context

    The backend logs recorded the error alongside the specific user ID, allowing the developers to trace the fault to a specific account configuration.


A compound formed from the noun user and the initialism ID, which stands for identification. It follows the established linguistic pattern of combining a functional role with a shortened form of identity documentation.

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

This entry
Level A2 · Elementary
Updated