Standard Lemma guide

screensaver

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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈskɹiːnˌseɪ.və(ɹ)/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A computer program that displays aesthetic patterns or images when the computer is not being used, originally intended to prevent screenburn.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences, software

Examples

  • I configured my screensaver to appear after only two minutes, because I enjoyed watching it so much.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The background picture of a computer, smartphone, or similar mobile device.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: proscribed

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English screen Proto-Indo-European *solh2- Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *sl̥h2-wós Proto-Italic *salawos Latin salvus Proto-Indo-European *-h2 Proto-Indo-European *-éh2 Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh2yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h2tiinflu. Proto-Italic *-ājō Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin salvō Latin salvāre Old French sauverbor. Middle English saven English save Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āzios Latin -āriusnom. Latin -āriusbor. Proto-Germanic *-ārijaz Proto-West Germanic *-ārī Old English -ere Middle English -ere English -er English saver English screensaver From screen + saver.

Across languages

Translations

37 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: شَاشَة تَوَقُّف — computer program
  • Basque: pantaila-babesle — computer program
  • Catalan: estalvi de pantalla — computer program
  • Chinese Mandarin: 屏幕保護程序 /屏幕保护程序 (píngmù bǎohù chéngxù) — computer program
  • Czech: spořič obrazovky — computer program
  • Dutch: screensaver — computer program
  • Dutch: schermbeveiliger — computer program
  • Esperanto: ekrankurtano — computer program
  • Finnish: näytönsäästäjä — computer program
  • Finnish: ruudunsäästäjä — computer program
  • French: écran de veille — computer program
  • Georgian: ეკრანმზოგი (eḳranmzogi) — computer program
  • Georgian: სკრინსეივერი (sḳrinseiveri) — computer program
  • German: Bildschirmschoner — computer program
  • Hungarian: képernyőkímélő — computer program
  • Hungarian: képernyővédő — computer program
  • Irish: spárálaí scáileáin — computer program
  • Japanese: スクリーンセーバー (sukurīnsēbā) — computer program
  • Korean: 스크린세이버 (seukeurinseibeo) — computer program
  • Korean: 화면 보호기 (hwamyeon bohogi) — computer program
  • Māori: pūtiaki mata — computer program
  • Marathi: स्क्रीनसेव्हर (skrīnsevhar) — computer program
  • Norman: saûveux d'êcran — computer program
  • Norwegian Bokmål: skjermsparer — computer program
  • Polish: wygaszacz ekranu — computer program
  • Portuguese: descanso de tela — computer program
  • Portuguese: (macOS) protetor de tela — computer program
  • Portuguese: protetor de ecrã — computer program
  • Portuguese: (macOS) proteção de ecrã — computer program
  • Russian: скринсе́йвер (skrinsɛ́jver) — computer program
  • Russian: храни́тель экра́на (xranítelʹ ekrána) — computer program
  • Russian: заста́вка (zastávka) — computer program
  • Spanish: protector de pantalla — computer program
  • Spanish: salvapantallas — computer program
  • Swedish: skärmsläckare — computer program
  • Ukrainian: скринсе́йвер (skrynséjver) — computer program
  • Vietnamese: trình bảo vệ màn hình — computer program