: of a size and design that makes operation and use on one's lap convenient compare desktop
: a portable microcomputer having its main components (such as processor, keyboard, and display screen) integrated into a single unit capable of battery-powered operation
Examples of laptop in a Sentence
Noun
He uses a laptop for business when he travels.
Recent Examples on the Web
Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 13 Jan. 2026
At the same time, both rivals rely on external, laptop-style adapters.
—PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2025
Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
Missiles cost tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars, are limited in quantity and can be overkill for a quadcopter drone that costs less than a laptop.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for laptop
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Adjective
The padded laptop sleeve protects electronics, while the spacious main compartment fits clothing, toiletries, and in-flight essentials.
—Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 13 Jan. 2026
At the same time, both rivals rely on external, laptop-style adapters.
—PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
And his warnings about demons lurking in our cellphones and laptops seem to resonate with the younger generation.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
Missiles cost tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars, are limited in quantity and can be overkill for a quadcopter drone that costs less than a laptop.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for laptop
Cite this Entry
“Laptop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/laptop. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
laptop
1 of 2 adjective
lap·top
-ˌtäp 
: of a size and design that makes use on one's lap convenient
laptop
2 of 2 noun
: a portable computer that is small enough to use on one's lap, has its main components (as keyboard and display screen) combined in one unit, and can run on battery power
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