404

[ fawr-oh-fawr, fohr-oh-fohr ]

/ ˈfɔr oʊˈfɔr, ˈfoʊr oʊˈfoʊr /

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noun

Also called 404 error .Computers. an error message sent by a web server to a browser when the user has typed an incorrect URL, tried to access a web page that is no longer available, or clicked on a broken link on a web page: They must have taken down their website; I keep getting that annoying “404 - File Not Found” message.

Slang. a person who is stupid or uninformed.

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CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of 404

First recorded in 1995–2000

Words nearby 404

3D printing, 3G, 3H, 401(k), 401(k) plan, 404, 411, 420, 45, 4EVA, 4-F

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use 404 in a sentence

When this happens, Google will flag those pages as soft 404s and treat the URL as a real 404 and not index the page.
Google now does soft 404 detection by device type|Barry Schwartz|July 9, 2021|Search Engine Land
If you are noticing indexing issues in Google Search starting around a month ago, or if you see a spike in soft 404s around that time frame, this change may be related to that.
Google now does soft 404 detection by device type|Barry Schwartz|July 9, 2021|Search Engine Land
Hence it would be great for your 404s to include a sitemap on them.
Guide to using interactive 404s to boost your SEO|Amanda Jerelyn|September 24, 2020|Search Engine Watch
Lastly, I would like to share some guidelines with you to help you avoid 404s where you can possibly manage to reduce them.
Guide to using interactive 404s to boost your SEO|Amanda Jerelyn|September 24, 2020|Search Engine Watch

However, there are ways through which you can use 404s to boost your SEO, as in some situations, it is not a broken link but an error by the user that can cause them.
Guide to using interactive 404s to boost your SEO|Amanda Jerelyn|September 24, 2020|Search Engine Watch
Have I given-404--vol ii- cause, ask you, and take scandal when I have done?
Memoirs of the Court of Queen Elizabeth|Lucy Aikin

British Dictionary definitions for 404

404

/ (ˌfɔːəʊˈfɔː) /

noun

slang a stupid or ineffectual person

Word Origin for 404

C21: from the Internet error message `404 Not Found'

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012