lock screen

noun

plural lock screens
: a graphical user interface displayed by a device (such as a computer or smartphone) that prevents access to most functions of the device until a certain action (such as swiping one's finger across the screen or entering a predetermined code) is performed
Speaking of locking your phone, Android typically shows notifications on your lock screen by default—which means the contents of messages you receive might be visible to anyone who looks at your device, even if they can't unlock it.JR Raphael

Examples of lock screen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Glance is known for custom lock screens for phones that show things like news and weather. ArsTechnica, 1 Apr. 2025 Inside the Odyssey, state police reported finding a cell phone that was completely dead and a second phone that had a photo of a man holding a child on its lock screen, the warrant affidavits said. Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2025 Users keeping track of their brackets will be able to queue up multiple games on their lock screens using Live Activities and follow all the real-time action happening at the same time. Tyler Hayes, PCMAG, 13 Mar. 2025 Last September, the airline's app added more tech features like a boarding countdown on phone lock screens. Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lock screen

Word History

First Known Use

1991, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lock screen was in 1991

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Cite this Entry

“Lock screen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lock%20screen. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

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