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
In past years, the same report was generated on the county’s old mainframe system, which Tyler helped phase out.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 12 May 2025
In comparison, an IBM 360 mainframe cost between $7 million and $12 million at the time.
—ArsTechnica, 14 Apr. 2025
This included moving their legacy mainframe systems into the cloud.
—Peter Bendor-Samuel, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
Over time, advancements from mainframe computers to the evolution of PCs to the rise of virtualization and the supremacy of the cloud—and even the move from desktops to mobile devices—fundamentally altered the very notion of enterprise IT.
—Charles Yeomans, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mainframe
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.
A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 12 May 2025
In comparison, an IBM 360 mainframe cost between $7 million and $12 million at the time.
—ArsTechnica, 14 Apr. 2025
This included moving their legacy mainframe systems into the cloud.
—Peter Bendor-Samuel, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
Over time, advancements from mainframe computers to the evolution of PCs to the rise of virtualization and the supremacy of the cloud—and even the move from desktops to mobile devices—fundamentally altered the very notion of enterprise IT.
—Charles Yeomans, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mainframe
Cite this Entry
“Mainframe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mainframe. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mainframe
noun
main·frame
ˈmān-ˌfrām
: a large fast computer that can do many jobs at once
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share