adware

noun

ad·​ware ˈad-ˌwer How to pronounce adware (audio)
: computer software that is provided usually for free but contains advertisements

Examples of adware in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Responding to the continuing tidal waves of malware, adware and permission abuse, Google is now clamping down. Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026 Pop-ups, ads or odd redirects: An increase in aggressive pop-ups, full-screen ads or random redirects in your browser may indicate adware or other intrusive software hiding in your system. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2025 The place is ripe with adware, trackers, and malware of a more nefarious nature than your standard surface web versions. PC Magazine, 22 June 2025 These sites are often used to distribute malware or adware. Ken Colburn, AZCentral.com, 12 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for adware

Word History

Etymology

ad entry 1 + -ware (in software)

First Known Use

1985, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of adware was in 1985

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Cite this Entry

“Adware.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adware. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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