1
: relating to, occurring in, or required at the beginning of an undertaking or business transaction
no front-end charge at the time of investment
He pays close attention to financial matters and can speak the language of "front-end money," "back-end money" and the rest of it.—
Erik Hedegaard
compare back-end sense 1
Erik Hedegaard2
computing
: visible to the user of a device or service
a front-end application/interface
compare back-end sense 2
plural front ends
1
: the front part or section of something
Soon the front end of the ship began to go down and down, faster and faster—till the boat looked almost as though it were standing on its head.—Hugh Lofting
Hugh Lofting2
computing
a
: a unit in a computer system devoted to controlling the data communications link between terminals and the main computer and often to the preliminary processing of data
b
: a software interface (such as a graphical user interface) designed to enable user-friendly interaction with a computer
… you'll want to use this well-designed, easy-to-use front end for Windows' obscure command-line tools.—Edward Mendelson
compare back end sense 3
Edward Mendelson3
: the initial part or period of a business arrangement or financial undertaking
Once a record company has sunk a lot of money on the front end of a project, with big-name producers and an expensive video, she says, "They're afraid of spending money on anything else."—Mimi Valdés
Mimi ValdésIn sum, the initiative aims to force … residents to pay more of their own fire protection expenses, and to pay those expenses on the front end.—David Sirota
compare back end sense 2
David SirotaExamples of front-end in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 7 June 2025
When decisions are made by AI systems interpreting context rather than by users navigating menus, brands must shift their focus from front-end design to contextual presence.
—Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 21 May 2025
Vetting and collecting this data can be a powerful tool for client buy-in in the coaching process and supports the engagement being tangible on the front end.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for front-end
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Adjective
Police said the vehicle involved in the accident, a Mitsubishi Mirage, was returned by Lopez-Infante, with front-end damage, to a rental business in Mt. Juliet May 19.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 7 June 2025
When decisions are made by AI systems interpreting context rather than by users navigating menus, brands must shift their focus from front-end design to contextual presence.
—Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
Noun
For outdoorsy types, the AWD-only Woodland model gets a slightly more aggressive front end design, all-terrain tires, roof rails with crossbars for cargo, and a rear activity mount for additional carrying capacity.
—Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 21 May 2025
Vetting and collecting this data can be a powerful tool for client buy-in in the coaching process and supports the engagement being tangible on the front end.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for front-end
Cite this Entry
“Front-end.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/front-end. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.
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