DOCX
3 synonyms for DOCX, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The standard file format for word-processed documents used by Microsoft Word since 2007, based on the Office Open XML standard. A .docx file is really a compressed package holding several smaller files that describe the text, the formatting and any pictures separately.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Word document
Word file
Office Open XML document
How to use DOCX
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
DOCX file
.docx
save as DOCX
convert DOCX to PDF
export as DOCX
Technical but in everyday office use. Often written lower case with a dot, as .docx, when referring to the extension.
Etymology
From doc, short for document, plus x for XML, the text-based system used to store the file's contents.
Full origin of DOCX →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between DOC and DOCX?
DOC is the older Word format, a single binary file that only certain programs could reliably read. DOCX, introduced with Word 2007, stores the same kind of document as a zipped bundle of XML text files, which makes it smaller, less prone to corruption and much easier for other software to support. Word opens both, but saves new documents as DOCX by default.
Can I open a DOCX without Microsoft Word?
Yes. Google Docs, LibreOffice Writer, Apple Pages and many free viewers all read DOCX, and the format is published as an open standard. Very complex layouts and tracked changes sometimes shift slightly when moved between programs.
Why is a DOCX file actually a ZIP file?
Because that is how the format is defined. Renaming a .docx to .zip and unpacking it reveals a folder of XML documents plus any embedded images. Zipping the parts together keeps the file small and lets programs pull out just the piece they need.
