mouse potato

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

A person who spends excessive amounts of time using a computer.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

Lady Miss Kier is a mouse potato. 'I wake up, I go and turn the computer on before I wash my face or brush my teeth. I'll be sitting there in my underwear, and before I know it, four hours have passed. Then I pick up the phone, push some more buttons and the food delivery arrives, and then 16 hours

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “mouse potato” mean?

A person who spends excessive amounts of time using a computer.

Is “mouse potato” formal or informal?

mouse potato is generally slang.