AI buzzword dictionary

What is Prompt?

The instruction or question you give an AI tool.

What this actually means

A prompt is everything you type (or attach) to tell the AI what you want. Clear prompts usually get more useful results.

Good prompts say who the output is for, what it should contain, the format, and any limits such as length or tone.

Example

Weak: 'Write about our sale.' Stronger: 'Write a 60-word email to existing customers announcing 20% off garden tools until Sunday. Friendly, no exclamation marks.'

Where you may meet it

Every chat assistant or AI feature that has a text box.

Related terms and lessons

TokenA small chunk of text — often part of a word — that language models read and write.Context windowThe maximum amount of text a model can take into account at one time.HallucinationWhen an AI confidently produces information that is false or made up.How to write a better AI promptMost disappointing AI answers come from vague instructions. This short lesson shows a simple checklist you can use with any chat assistant.Using AI to help write work emailsAI can save time on routine emails, but you remain responsible for what is sent. Use it for a first draft, then edit.

Last reviewed: 25 September 2026