noun

DOCX

DOK-eks

DOCX (noun) means 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. Example: “Please send the report as a DOCX rather than a PDF so I can edit it.”

noun

technical, computing 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.

"Please send the report as a DOCX rather than a PDF so I can edit it."

"Google Docs will open a DOCX and let you save it back out in the same format."

How to Use DOCX

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe normal file type for a Word document.

When to use it

Technical but in everyday office use. Often written lower case with a dot, as .docx, when referring to the extension.

Memory tip

Pronounce it "dock-ex"; the final x is said as a separate letter.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

DOC → ODT RTF → PDF →

Common pairings

DOCX file .docx save as DOCX convert DOCX to PDF export as DOCX

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Test yourself on “DOCX” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Please send the report as a _____ rather than a PDF so I can edit it.

Etymology

From doc, short for document, plus x for XML, the text-based system used to store the file's contents.

Origin: English

Synonyms

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Word document Word file Office Open XML document

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.