mainframe
noun
main·frame
ˈmān-ˌfrām 
1
: a large, powerful computer that can handle many tasks concurrently and is usually used commercially
… the million-dollar mainframe computers that took up entire floors of corporate premises …—
John Derbyshire
John Derbyshire2
dated
: a computer with its cabinet and internal circuits especially when considered separately from any peripherals connected to the computer
Examples of mainframe in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And that the way to make money, control politics, is to seize the mainframe.
—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
3 July 2026
The traditional tech companies of the time built large mainframe computers.
—
Joel Achenbach,
Washington Post,
1 July 2026
Major banks, governments and insurers continue to rely on COBOL mainframes written decades ago.
—
Don Schuerman,
Forbes.com,
9 June 2026
That refers to a mismatch between the county’s old mainframe and the portion of the bill that lists what the property owner paid for its first installment, a treasurer’s office official said.
—
A.d. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mainframe
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Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
3 July 2026
The traditional tech companies of the time built large mainframe computers.
—
Joel Achenbach,
Washington Post,
1 July 2026
Major banks, governments and insurers continue to rely on COBOL mainframes written decades ago.
—
Don Schuerman,
Forbes.com,
9 June 2026
That refers to a mismatch between the county’s old mainframe and the portion of the bill that lists what the property owner paid for its first installment, a treasurer’s office official said.
—
A.d. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mainframe
Cite this Entry
“Mainframe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mainframe. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mainframe
noun
main·frame
ˈmān-ˌfrām
: a large fast computer that can do many jobs at once
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