hardware

noun

hard·​ware ˈhärd-ˌwer 

1

: ware (such as fittings, cutlery, tools, utensils, or parts of machines) made of metal

2

: major items of equipment or their components used for a particular purpose

educational hardware

: such as

a

: military equipment

b

: the physical components (such as electronic and electrical devices) of a vehicle (such as a spacecraft) or an apparatus (such as a computer)

3

: an award (such as a trophy, medal, or cup) given in a sports competition

Synonyms of hardware

• equipment
• gear
• apparatus

Examples of hardware in a Sentence

She bought some new hardware for her system.

gathered together the hardware needed to set up a first aid station at the finish line for the marathon

Recent Examples on the Web

The walls of Franca’s store were lined with unlabeled bins and drawers full of bits and bobs that looked like the world’s most disorganized hardware store. —Literary Hub, 20 May 2026

For a small-ish Shenzhen OEM, the hardware feels very polished and premium. —Ben Sin, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026

On the hardware front, Alphabet gave a first look at its audio smart glasses coming later this year. —Alex Harring, CNBC, 20 May 2026

On the first two Artemis missions, the SLS made use of a piece of hardware known as the interim cryogenic propulsion stage as the upper stage, which provided propulsion in space after other components of the rocket had separated. —Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 20 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing hardware

• hardware cloth

Rhymes for hardware

• abwehr
• affair
• affaire
• airfare
• altair
• armchair
• aware
• beware
• bugbear
• carfare
• childcare
• compare

Kids Definition

hardware

noun

hard·​ware ˈhär-ˌdwa(ə)r 

-ˌdwe(ə)r

1

: articles (as fittings, cutlery, tools, utensils, or parts of machines) made of metal

2

: the equipment used for a particular purpose

computer hardware

military hardware