32-bit

Definition: Adjective: (1) ~ application: written to run on computers using a 32-bit operating system e.g. Mac OS or Windows 95. (2) ~ colour, ~ sound: coding, bit-depth, monitor or video- or sound-card with same resolution as 24-bit but uses the extra 8 bits to improve efficiency in e.g. data handling. (3) ~ operating system, ~ machine: one that can work with or process data or words 32 bits long or 4 bytes at a time.
When 32 is 16
Some machines - e.g. Apple Mac Plus - used a 32-bit operating system but the data buses - i.e. channels carrying information - operate at 16-bit. They are generally regarded as 16-bit machines.

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