noun

web3

web THREE

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Web3 (noun) means a proposed model of the internet in which services run on blockchains rather than on servers owned by companies, so that accounts, data and digital possessions belong to users directly instead of to the platforms they use. Example: “The conference was billed as a web3 event, though half the talks were about ordinary web development.”

noun

A proposed model of the internet in which services run on blockchains rather than on servers owned by companies, so that accounts, data and digital possessions belong to users directly instead of to the platforms they use.

"The conference was billed as a web3 event, though half the talks were about ordinary web development."

"She argues that web3 has yet to produce an application most people would use daily."

adjective

Relating to or built on that model.

"They rebranded the company as a web3 startup and swapped logins for wallet connections."

How to use web3

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe idea of an internet built on blockchains, where you own your account and data instead of a company.

When to use it

Written web3, Web3 or web 3.0. The term is contested: it is used both as a genuine technical description and as marketing, and some writers avoid it for that reason.

Memory tip

Web3 describes an aim rather than a finished thing. Do not confuse it with the semantic web, an unrelated older idea also once called Web 3.0.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

web 2.0 the semantic web metaverse →

Common pairings

a web3 app web3 wallet the web3 space move to web3

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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 “web3” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The conference was billed as a _____ event, though half the talks were about ordinary web development.

Etymology

A compound of web and the numeral 3, positioning the idea as a third stage after the early read-only web and the later social and platform web.

Origin: English

Synonyms

View more →

the decentralised web web 3.0 decentralised on-chain

Related words

decentralized blockchain DeFi

Rhymes for web3

web

See all rhymes for web3 →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between web2 and web3?

Web2 is shorthand for the current web of platforms and social services, where a company holds your account and the data attached to it. Web3 describes an alternative in which those records live on a public blockchain and are controlled by keys the user holds. In practice most web3 applications still depend on ordinary web infrastructure for their interfaces.

Is web3 the same as the metaverse?

No. The metaverse refers to shared three-dimensional virtual spaces, which is a question of interface. Web3 is about who owns and controls the underlying records, which is a question of infrastructure. The two were promoted at the same time and are often mentioned together, but neither requires the other.

Do you need cryptocurrency to use web3?

Broadly yes, because actions recorded on a blockchain generally require a fee paid in that chain's own currency, and identity is usually handled by a crypto wallet rather than a username and password. Some services hide this by covering the fees themselves. The dependence on a chain is what distinguishes web3 from an ordinary website.

What is the meaning of web3?

"web3" (noun) means a proposed model of the internet in which services run on blockchains rather than on servers owned by companies, so that accounts, data and digital possessions belong to users directly instead of to the platforms they use.

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