software

noun

soft·​ware ˈsȯft-ˌwer 

: something used or associated with and usually contrasted with hardware: such as

a

: programs for a computer

accounting software

b

dated : the entire set of programs, procedures, and related documentation associated with a mechanical or electronic system and especially a computer system

c

: materials for use with audiovisual equipment

… television programs, music, and movies are now called software, by the way …

—Robert Bixby

Examples of software in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Kovac had previously served as the company's director of Autopilot software engineering. —Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 6 June 2025

Whether the device is bought with malicious software already onboard, or that software is downloaded during post-purchase configuration, setup or firmware update, the result is the same. —Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025

Vehicle features that rely heavily on software aren't without fault. —Charles Singh, USA Today, 6 June 2025

Is there a hunger for closer coverage of applications, toolkits, and issues relevant to professional software developers? —Ken Fisher, ArsTechnica, 6 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1958, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for software

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

Kids Definition

software

noun

soft·​ware ˈsȯf-ˌtwa(ə)r 

-ˌtwe(ə)r

: the programs and related information used by a computer