web application
compound.compound. a computer program that you use through a web browser instead of installing it on your computer. You use these every day for things like checking email, social media, or online banking.
compound. a software program stored on a remote server and delivered over the internet through a browser interface. Unlike native software, it does not require local installation and relies on client-server architecture to process user requests.
Google Docs is a popular web application for writing.
The company moved its payroll system to a web application so employees could access their payslips from any device.
Modern web applications leverage asynchronous data transfers to provide a seamless user experience that mimics the responsiveness of locally installed desktop software.
A compound formed from the noun web, referring to the World Wide Web, and application, a term for functional software. The phrase gained prominence in the late 1990s as browser-based services began to replace local software installations.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Often shortened to 'web app' in informal or technical contexts.
Last updated July 22, 2026