help desk

noun

plural help desks
: a department or person that provides assistance and information usually for electronic or computer problems
Adding a work account is easier than it used to be, but if you're a technophobe, or if your company requires special security settings, call your help desk.Jeremy Caplan
often hyphenated when used before another noun
help-desk questions
Pleas to reset forgotten passwords account for half of help-desk calls to Web sites, says RSA Security.Victoria Murphy Barret

Examples of help desk in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Not far from where the two sat, a customer service light flickered on and off, but no employees manned the help desk. Audrey Pachuta, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026 The hidden cost of password resets, lockouts and help desk tickets is enormous. Rohan Pinto, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026 End the conversation and contact your school through an official help desk number or website. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2026 The Entwistles say they were escorted back to the main help desk, where they were informed that Martyn was banned from flying. Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 5 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for help desk

Word History

First Known Use

1980, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of help desk was in 1980

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Help desk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/help%20desk. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

help desk

noun
: a department or person that provides help or information usually for electronic or computer problems
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!