noun

daemon

/ˈdiːmən/ · say it: DEE·muhn

a background process that runs without user interaction

In Technology & Computing

In more detail

1. (noun) a background computer program that runs automatically and performs specific tasks without user interaction

2. (noun) in ancient Greek and Roman mythology, a spirit or supernatural being, often evil or mischievous

Examples

1. The email daemon processes messages automatically throughout the day.
2. In Greek mythology, daemons were believed to influence human behavior from the spirit world.

How to use daemon

In computing, daemon refers to a non-interactive program that runs continuously in the background performing system tasks; this sense is standard in technical and Unix/Linux contexts. In mythology and literature, daemon denotes a supernatural being intermediate between gods and humans, often with mischievous or sinister qualities; this usage is more literary and historical. The term has influenced the modern concept of artificial intelligence entities or autonomous agents.

Common phrases

daemon process
daemon thread
spawn a daemon
daemon mode
malicious daemon

Synonyms

background process · service · spirit · supernatural being · ghost

Word family

daemons (plural) · daemonic (adjective)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse daemon with demon; while daemon can mean an evil spirit, it more neutrally describes any supernatural being, whereas demon specifically implies an evil or malevolent entity.

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