Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Relating to or being a computer system in which the screen displays text and graphics exactly as they will be printed.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • initialism what you see is what you get.
  • noun computing Software that allows editing on screen what the printed version would be like; software with a what-you-see-is-what-you-get display interface.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective relating to or being a word processing system that prints the text exactly as it appears on the computer screen

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[w(hat) y(ou) s(ee) i(s) w(hat) y(ou) g(et).]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Coined by John Seybold and popularized at Xerox PARC during the late 1970s.

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Examples

  • Well, yes, WYSIWYG, that is exactly what it means, and if we allow ourselves just a second's further reflection, we realize what a terrible and devastating admission it is.

    Was the Air Force One Flyover a Warning to Obama? 2009

  • For this reason, they're frequently called WYSIWYG or "what you see is what you get" editors.

    The AdSense API: All grown up and ready to play 2007

  • For this reason, they're frequently called WYSIWYG or "what you see is what you get" editors.

    Wysi-what? 2007

  • Steve and Chiara Rosenblum have assembled abstract pieces by young artists for a show titled "WYSIWYG" at their "Rosenblum Collection & Friends," presenting Jacob Kassay, Sterling Ruby and a premiere of commissioned sculptures by Aaron Young.

    NYT > Home Page By NICOLAI HARTVIG 2011

  • Hiring a WYSIWYG is an easy choice, but I don't think being a WYSIWYG is the best option.

    Planet TW 2010

  • One popular way to build your own site is by using a so-called WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) website editor.

    columbiatribune.com stories 2010

  • Paul is a laid-back Californian guy, the proprietor of a fashionable restaurant called WYSIWYG, a title which may or may or not be ironic.

    The Guardian World News 2010

  • Hiring a WYSIWYG is an easy choice, but I don't think being a WYSIWYG is the best option.

    Planet TW 2009

  • Hiring a WYSIWYG is an easy choice, but I don't think being a WYSIWYG is the best option.

    Planet TW 2009

  • Hiring a WYSIWYG is an easy choice, but I don't think being a WYSIWYG is the best option.

    Planet TW 2009

Comments

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  • Pronounced "wizzy-wig".

    December 20, 2012

  • see also wysiwyg.

    December 20, 2012