What does network mean?
A network is a set of people, organizations, devices, or other entities joined through communication or shared connections. The word is used for social and professional relationships, as in “a network of business contacts,” and for technical systems such as computer networks, communication networks, and neural networks. In these contexts, the important idea is that individual elements are interconnected and can communicate, exchange information, or rely on one another. “Network” can therefore suggest community and mutual support, or it can refer to organized infrastructure and information flow. Its meaning ranges from a small circle of colleagues to a global communications system, making it a useful word for describing both human relationships and designed systems.
A group of interconnected people, organizations, devices, or other entities that communicate, share resources, or exchange information.
"The university maintains a research network across several departments."
The word can describe either a technical system or a web of professional and social relationships.
To connect people, organizations, or devices so that they can communicate or share resources; also, to form professional or social relationships.
"The conference gave young professionals a chance to network with potential collaborators."
The verb is especially common in professional contexts and is often used in the somewhat informal phrase “network with someone.”
The plural is used for separate interconnected systems, groups, or arrangements.
"The company operates networks in more than twenty countries."
From an internet connection to a chain of friends, a network is defined by connections—and the patterns those connections create.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does network come from?
The word entered English as a compound of “net” and “work,” initially referring to a net-like arrangement of intersecting lines. The underlying idea of an interconnected mesh comes from the older sense of a net, whose Germanic ancestry also connects it with words such as “nettle.” Over time, “network” came to describe any organized system of linked people, institutions, or devices. Its modern computing senses developed from the earlier idea of communications lines and connected stations.
Related word forms
How network is actually used
The term is common in both formal and informal contexts. In professional settings, “network” often implies relationships maintained for mutual benefit, while in computing it generally denotes a technical system of connected devices.
Easily confused with network
A net is typically a physical mesh or a system that catches or captures things, whereas a network is broader and usually emphasizes interconnected people, devices, or organizations.