noun

UX

yoo-EKS

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UX (noun) means the overall experience a person has when using a product, website or app, including how easy it is to understand, how quickly it lets them finish what they came to do, and how it makes them feel. Example: “The checkout works, but the UX is confusing — nobody can find the delivery options.”

noun

technical The overall experience a person has when using a product, website or app, including how easy it is to understand, how quickly it lets them finish what they came to do, and how it makes them feel.

"The checkout works, but the UX is confusing — nobody can find the delivery options."

"She moved from graphic design into UX after realising she preferred solving problems to choosing fonts."

technical The professional discipline concerned with researching how people use a product and designing it so that it suits them.

"He works in UX at a bank, mostly running interviews with customers."

How to use UX

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishWhat it is actually like to use a website or app.

When to use it

Standard in the software and design industries; the full form user experience is more common in writing for a general audience.

Memory tip

UX covers the whole journey, including things you never see on screen, such as how long a delivery takes or how easy it is to get a refund.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

UI → CX (customer experience) usability testing

Common pairings

UX designer UX research good UX bad UX UX writing

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

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

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The checkout works, but the _____ is confusing — nobody can find the delivery options.

Etymology

An initialism of user experience.

Origin: English

Synonyms

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user experience usability interaction design product design user experience design UX design human-centred design

Related words

usability accessibility serviceability

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between UX and UI?

UI is the part you look at and touch — the buttons, menus, colours and text on screen. UX is the whole experience of using the product, including whether it solved your problem and how much effort it took. A screen can have an attractive UI and still deliver a poor UX.

Is UX only about websites and apps?

No. The term comes from software, but it is applied to anything a person interacts with, including ticket machines, kitchen appliances and physical services such as a hotel check-in.

Does UX involve any coding?

Not necessarily. UX work commonly involves interviews, testing with real users, mapping journeys and drawing interface designs. Some UX practitioners also write code, but it is not part of the definition.

What is the meaning of UX?

"UX" (noun) means the overall experience a person has when using a product, website or app, including how easy it is to understand, how quickly it lets them finish what they came to do, and how it makes them feel.

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usability accessibility serviceability