Phrase guide

peripheral device

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

An electronic device that is outside the computer's system unit (external to the computer's enclosing case), but used by the computer to which it is connected, such as a printer or a scanner.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computer-hardware, computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

(computer science) electronic equipment connected by cable to the CPU of a computer

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • disk drives and printers are important peripherals

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: peripheral, computer peripheral

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: electronic equipment

Narrower terms: data input device, input device, output device, printer

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

33 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Azerbaijani: periferiya qurğusu — device that is outside the computer's system unit
  • Azerbaijani: periferiya qurğuları — device that is outside the computer's system unit
  • Bulgarian: периферно устройство (periferno ustrojstvo) — device that is outside the computer's system unit
  • Catalan: perifèric — device that is outside the computer's system unit
  • Chinese Mandarin: 外部設備 /外部设备 (wàibù shèbèi) — device that is outside the computer's system unit
  • Chinese Mandarin: 外設 /外设 (wàishè) — device that is outside the computer's system unit
  • Chinese Mandarin: 周邊設備 /周边设备 (zhōuwéi shèbèi) — device that is outside the computer's system unit
  • Chinese Mandarin: 外圍設備 /外围设备 (wàiwéi shèbèi) — device that is outside the computer's system unit
  • Esperanto: flankaparato — device that is outside the computer's system unit
  • Finnish: oheislaite — device that is outside the computer's system unit
  • French: périphérique informatique — device that is outside the computer's system unit
  • French: périphérique — device that is outside the computer's system unit
  • German: Peripheriegerät — device that is outside the computer's system unit
  • Greek: περιφεριακή συσκευή (periferiakí syskeví) — device that is outside the computer's system unit
  • Hungarian: periféria — device that is outside the computer's system unit
  • Hungarian: perifériás eszköz — device that is outside the computer's system unit
  • Hungarian: eszköz — device that is outside the computer's system unit
  • Indonesian: perangkat periferal — device that is outside the computer's system unit
  • Indonesian: peranti periferal — device that is outside the computer's system unit
  • Irish: gléas forimeallach — device that is outside the computer's system unit
  • Japanese: 周辺機器 (shūhen kiki) — device that is outside the computer's system unit
  • Korean: 주변장치 (jubyeonjangchi) — device that is outside the computer's system unit
  • Norwegian Bokmål: periferenhet — device that is outside the computer's system unit
  • Polish: urządzenie peryferyjne — device that is outside the computer's system unit
  • Portuguese: periférico — device that is outside the computer's system unit
  • Romanian: aparat periferic — device that is outside the computer's system unit
  • Romanian: unitate periferică — device that is outside the computer's system unit
  • Romanian: dispozitiv periferic — device that is outside the computer's system unit
  • Russian: перифери́йное устро́йство (periferíjnoje ustrójstvo) — device that is outside the computer's system unit
  • Spanish: periférico — device that is outside the computer's system unit
  • Spanish: dispositivo periférico — device that is outside the computer's system unit
  • Vietnamese: thiết bị ngoại vi — device that is outside the computer's system unit
  • Welsh: dyfais berifferol — device that is outside the computer's system unit