notification
noh-tih-fih-KAY-shuhn
/ˌnoʊ.tɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/
An automated alert, sound, or pop-up banner sent by an application to inform a user of a new message or update.
Focuses on the visual or auditory prompt generated by software to gain user attention.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'notificare', meaning 'to make known'. Early computer operating system notifications were plain command-line text logs, evolving into smartphone push notifications in 2009.
Word relationships
- alert: Alert often implies urgency or warning, whereas notification covers routine updates.
Commonly confused with
- ping: A notification is the alert output shown on screen; a ping is the incoming prompt trigger.
Word family
- notify (verb): To inform or send an official alert
Collocations
- push notification
- receive a notification
- turn off notifications
Example sentences
- "She disabled every non-essential notification on her smartphone to reduce workplace distractions." Mobile User Interface
Memory hook
NOTIFICATION makes new activity NOTED on screen. Making new messages known immediately.
When not to use
Do not use for the core text body of a message itself.
Fun facts
- Research shows the average smartphone user receives over 46 push notifications every single day!
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