Screen vs. Monitor — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 17, 2024
A screen is a general term for any display surface, while a monitor specifically refers to a device that displays output from a computer.
Difference Between Screen and Monitor
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A screen can refer to any visual display interface, including those on phones, tablets, and televisions, whereas a monitor is specifically designed to display outputs from computers.
Screens are integral to many devices, serving as the interface for interaction and content consumption; on the other hand, monitors are typically standalone units that connect to a computer or network.
The technology in screens varies widely, from LCD and OLED in consumer electronics to LED screens in large public displays, while monitors usually utilize technologies optimized for compatibility and performance with computing tasks.
Screens are measured diagonally across the viewing area and can be part of a device or an independent display, while monitors usually include features like adjustable stands, multiple input ports, and are designed for desktop use.
In professional settings, screens can be used for a wide range of purposes including advertising and art installations, whereas monitors are often essential in environments like offices, design studios, and gaming setups for their precise color representation and response times.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A display surface used in various devices.
A display device that outputs visuals from a computer.
Usage
Found in phones, tablets, TVs, etc.
Primarily used with desktop computers.
Technology
Includes LCD, OLED, and LED.
Often features LCD, LED, specifically optimized for computers.
Measurement
Diagonal size across the visible area.
Diagonal size, often with specifications like resolution and refresh rate.
Typical Features
Touch capability, integrated within devices.
Standalone with adjustable stands, multiple connectivity options.
Compare with Definitions
Screen
A surface on which movies, videos, or presentations are projected.
They watched the movie on a large outdoor screen.
Monitor
A device displaying video output from a computer.
She bought a new monitor for her gaming setup.
Screen
The part of an electronic device that displays images and data.
The smartphone's screen broke when it fell.
Monitor
Used specifically in computing to mean a screen with associated technology like refresh rates.
The monitor supports a 144Hz refresh rate for smoother visuals.
Screen
Used to describe the extent of display technology.
The device features the latest OLED screen.
Monitor
A device used for measuring, observing, or checking the operation or condition of something.
The patient was attached to a heart rate monitor.
Screen
A barrier used to separate or block.
The room was divided using a decorative screen.
Monitor
Refers to the role of observing or supervising activities.
The teacher acted as a monitor during the exams.
Screen
A system used for protection or concealment.
The firewall acts as a screen against cyber attacks.
Monitor
In ecological terms, a way to track environmental conditions.
The wildlife monitor tracks the movements of tagged animals.
Screen
A movable device, especially a framed construction such as a room divider or a decorative panel, designed to divide, conceal, or protect.
Monitor
One that admonishes, cautions, or reminds, especially with respect to matters of conduct.
Screen
One that serves to protect, conceal, or divide
Security guards formed a screen around the president. A screen of evergreens afforded privacy from our neighbors.
Monitor
A pupil who assists a teacher in routine duties.
Screen
A surface, as on a smartphone, television, or computer monitor, on which one can read and view electronically displayed information and images.
Monitor
A usually electronic device used to record, regulate, or control a process or system.
Screen
A surface on which text and images are projected for display.
Monitor
A video display or speaker used in a production studio to check audio or video quality
The sound engineer detected a hiss on the monitor.
Screen
The medium in which movies are shown
A star of stage and screen.
Monitor
(Computers)A device that accepts video signals from a computer and displays information on a screen; a video display.
Screen
A coarse sieve used for sifting out fine particles, as of sand, gravel, or coal.
Monitor
(Computers)A program that observes, supervises, or controls the activities of other programs.
Screen
A system for preliminary appraisal and selection of personnel as to their suitability for particular jobs.
Monitor
An articulated device holding a rotating nozzle with which a jet of water is regulated, used in mining and firefighting.
Screen
A window or door insertion of framed wire or plastic mesh used to keep out insects and permit air flow.
Monitor
A heavily ironclad warship of the 19th century with a low, flat deck and one or more gun turrets.
Screen
A body of troops or ships sent in advance of or surrounding a larger body to protect or warn of attack.
Monitor
A modern warship designed for coastal bombardment.
Screen
(Sports) A block, set with the body, that impedes the vision or movement of an opponent.
Monitor
See monitor lizard.
Screen
(Football) A screen pass.
Monitor
To check the quality or content of (an electronic audio or visual signal) by means of a receiver.
Screen
To show or project (a movie, for example) on a screen.
Monitor
To check by means of an electronic receiver for significant content, such as military, political, or illegal activity
Monitor a suspected criminal's phone conversations.
Screen
To conceal from view with a screen or something that acts like a screen
"Only a narrow line of brush and saplings screened the broad vista of the marsh" (David M. Carroll).
Monitor
To keep track of systematically with a view to collecting information
Monitor the bear population of a national park.
Monitored the political views of the people.
Screen
To protect, guard, or shield
"This rose is screened from the wind with burlap" (Anne Raver).
Monitor
To test or sample, especially on a regular or ongoing basis
Monitored the city's drinking water for impurities.
Screen
To provide with a screen or screens
Screen a porch.
Monitor
To keep close watch over; supervise
Monitor an examination.
Screen
To separate or sift out (fine particles of sand, for example) by means of a sieve or screen.
Monitor
To direct.
Screen
To sort through and eliminate unwanted examples of (something)
A filter that screens email, preventing spam from reaching the inbox.
Monitor
To act as a monitor.
Screen
To examine (a job applicant, for example) systematically in order to determine suitability.
Monitor
Someone who watches over something; a person in charge of something or someone.
The camp monitors look after the children during the night, when the teachers are asleep.
Screen
To test or evaluate (a student) to determine placement in an educational system or to identify specific learning needs.
Monitor
A device that detects and informs on the presence, quantity, etc., of something.
Screen
To test or examine for the presence of disease or infection
Screen blood.
Screen a patient.
Monitor
(computing) A device similar to a television set used as to give a graphical display of the output from a computer.
The information flashed up on the monitor.
Screen
To subject to genetic screening.
Monitor
A studio monitor or loudspeaker.
Screen
To block the vision or movement of (an opponent) with the body.
Monitor
(computing) A program for viewing and editing.
A machine code monitor
Screen
To obscure an opponent's view of (a shot) by positioning oneself between the opponent and the shooter.
Monitor
A student leader in a class.
Screen
A physical divider intended to block an area from view, or provide shelter from something dangerous.
A fire screen
Monitor
(nautical) One of a class of relatively small armored warships with only one or two turrets (but often carrying unusually large guns for a warship of its size), usually designed for shore bombardment or riverine warfare rather than open-ocean combat. from 1862
Screen
A material woven from fine wires intended to block animals or large particles from passing while allowing gasses, liquids and finer particles to pass.
Monitor
(archaic) An ironclad.
Screen
A frame supporting a mesh of bars or wires used to classify fragments of stone by size, allowing the passage of fragments whose a diameter is smaller than the distance between the bars or wires.
Monitor
A monitor lizard.
Screen
(baseball) The protective netting which protects the audience from flying objects
Jones caught the foul up against the screen.
Monitor
(obsolete) One who admonishes; one who warns of faults, informs of duty, or gives advice and instruction by way of reproof or caution.
Screen
(printing) A stencil upon a framed mesh through which paint is forced onto printed-on material; the frame with the mesh itself.
Monitor
(engineering) A tool holder, as for a lathe, shaped like a low turret, and capable of being revolved on a vertical pivot so as to bring the several tools successively into position.
Screen
(by analogy) Searching through a sample for a target; an act of screening
A drug screen, a genetic screen
Monitor
A monitor nozzle.
Screen
(genetics) A technique used to identify genes so as to study gene functions.
Monitor
(transitive) To watch over; to guard.
Screen
Various forms or formats of information display
Monitor
One who admonishes; one who warns of faults, informs of duty, or gives advice and instruction by way of reproof or caution.
You need not be a monitor to the king.
Screen
The viewing surface or area of a movie, or moving picture or slide presentation.
Monitor
Hence, specifically, a pupil selected to look to the school in the absence of the instructor, to notice the absence or faults of the scholars, or to instruct a division or class.
Screen
The informational viewing area of electronic devices, where output is displayed.
Monitor
Any large Old World lizard of the genus Varanus; esp., the Egyptian species (Varanus Niloticus), which is useful because it devours the eggs and young of the crocodile. It is sometimes five or six feet long.
Screen
One of the individual regions of a video game, etc. divided into separate screens.
Monitor
An ironclad war vessel, very low in the water, and having one or more heavily-armored revolving turrets, carrying heavy guns.
Screen
(computer) The visualised data or imagery displayed on a computer screen.
After you turn on the computer, the login screen appears.
Monitor
A tool holder, as for a lathe, shaped like a low turret, and capable of being revolved on a vertical pivot so as to bring successively the several tools in holds into proper position for cutting.
Screen
(figurative) A disguise; concealment.
Monitor
A monitor nozzle.
Screen
Definitions related to standing in the path of an opposing player
Monitor
Display consisting of a device that takes signals from a computer and displays them on a CRT screen
Screen
(American football) screen pass
Monitor
Someone who supervises (an examination)
Screen
(basketball) An offensive tactic in which a player stands so as to block a defender from reaching a teammate.
Monitor
Someone who gives a warning so that a mistake can be avoided
Screen
(cricket) An erection of white canvas or wood placed on the boundary opposite a batsman to make the ball more easily visible.
Monitor
An iron-clad vessel built by Federal forces to do battle with the Merrimac
Screen
(nautical) A collection of less-valuable vessels that travel with a more valuable one for the latter's protection.
Monitor
Electronic equipment that is used to check the quality or content of electronic transmissions
Screen
(architecture) A dwarf wall or partition carried up to a certain height for separation and protection, as in a church, to separate the aisle from the choir, etc.
Monitor
A piece of electronic equipment that keeps track of the operation of a system continuously and warns of trouble
Screen
A large scarf.
Monitor
Any of various large tropical carnivorous lizards of Africa and Asia and Australia; fabled to warn of crocodiles
Screen
To filter by passing through a screen.
Mary screened the beans to remove the clumps of gravel.
Monitor
Keep tabs on; keep an eye on; keep under surveillance
Screen
To shelter or conceal.
Screen
To remove information, or censor intellectual material from viewing. To hide the facts.
The news report was screened because it accused the politician of wrongdoing.
Screen
To present publicly (on the screen).
The news report will be screened at 11:00 tonight.
Screen
To fit with a screen.
We need to screen this porch. These bugs are driving me crazy.
Screen
(medicine) To examine patients or treat a sample in order to detect a chemical or a disease, or to assess susceptibility to a disease.
Screen
(molecular biology) To search chemical libraries by means of a computational technique in order to identify chemical compounds which would potentially bind to a given biological target such as a protein.
Screen
(basketball) To stand so as to block a defender from reaching a teammate.
Screen
To determine the source or subject matter of a call before deciding whether to answer the phone.
Screen
Anything that separates or cuts off inconvenience, injury, or danger; that which shelters or conceals from view; a shield or protection; as, a fire screen.
Your leavy screens throw down.
Some ambitious men seem as screens to princes in matters of danger and envy.
Screen
A dwarf wall or partition carried up to a certain height for separation and protection, as in a church, to separate the aisle from the choir, or the like.
Screen
A surface, as that afforded by a curtain, sheet, wall, etc., upon which an image, as a picture, is thrown by a magic lantern, solar microscope, etc.
Screen
A long, coarse riddle or sieve, sometimes a revolving perforated cylinder, used to separate the coarser from the finer parts, as of coal, sand, gravel, and the like.
Screen
An erection of white canvas or wood placed on the boundary opposite a batsman to enable him to see ball better.
Screen
A netting, usu. of metal, contained in a frame, used mostly in windows or doors to allow in fresh air while excluding insects.
Screen
The surface of an electronic device, as a television set or computer monitor, on which a visible image is formed. The screen is frequently the surface of a cathode-ray tube containing phosphors excited by the electron beam, but other methods for causing an image to appear on the screen are also used, as in flat-panel displays.
Screen
The motion-picture industry; motion pictures.
Screen
To provide with a shelter or means of concealment; to separate or cut off from inconvenience, injury, or danger; to shelter; to protect; to protect by hiding; to conceal; as, fruits screened from cold winds by a forest or hill.
They were encouraged and screened by some who were in high commands.
Screen
To pass, as coal, gravel, ashes, etc., through a screen in order to separate the coarse from the fine, or the worthless from the valuable; to sift.
Screen
To examine a group of objects methodically, to separate them into groups or to select one or more for some purpose.
Screen
A white or silvered surface where pictures can be projected for viewing
Screen
Something that keeps things out or hinders sight;
They had just moved in and had not put up blinds yet
Screen
Display on the surface of the large end of a cathode-ray tube on which is electronically created
Screen
A covering that serves to conceal or shelter something;
They crouched behind the screen
Under cover of darkness
Screen
Protective covering consisting of a metallic netting mounted in a frame and covering windows or doors (especially for protection against insects)
Screen
A strainer for separating lumps from powdered material or grading particles
Screen
A door that is a screen to keep insects from entering a building through the open door;
He heard the screen slam as she left
Screen
Partition consisting of a decorative frame or panel that serves to divide a space
Screen
Test or examine for the presence of disease or infection;
Screen the blood for the HIV virus
Screen
Examine methodically;
Screen the suitcases
Screen
Examine in order to test suitability;
Screen these samples
Screen the job applicants
Screen
Project onto a screen for viewing;
Screen a film
Screen
Prevent from entering;
Block out the strong sunlight
Screen
Separate with a riddle, as grain from chaff
Screen
Protect, hide, or conceal from danger or harm
Common Curiosities
Can a television be considered a monitor?
While TVs and monitors are both screens, a TV is not typically used as a monitor without modifications because it's optimized for different input and viewing conditions.
What should I consider when buying a monitor?
Consider resolution, refresh rate, size, and connectivity options to ensure compatibility and performance with your computer.
How do I connect a monitor to a laptop?
You can connect a monitor to a laptop using HDMI, DisplayPort, or USB-C, depending on the available ports.
Are all monitors touch-enabled?
Not all monitors are touch-enabled; this feature is more common in screens integrated into devices like tablets and smartphones.
How does a monitor's refresh rate affect its performance?
A higher refresh rate in a monitor leads to smoother visuals, which is particularly beneficial in gaming and high-speed video applications.
Can screens be used for displaying art?
Yes, screens like digital displays are increasingly used for modern art installations.
What is the difference between a screen and a monitor?
A screen is a broad term for any display surface, while a monitor specifically refers to a display device for computers.
What technologies are used in screens?
Screen technologies include LCD, OLED, and LED.
Do monitors come with built-in speakers?
Some monitors come with built-in speakers, but many require external speakers for better audio quality.
What is the advantage of an OLED screen over an LCD monitor?
OLED screens offer better contrast and black levels compared to LCD monitors.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
