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 Paying for the premium edition gets you real-time protection, automatic updates, and blocking of adware and potentially unwanted programs, or PUPs. PCMAG, 13 Sep. 2023 At least 60,000 Android apps carried adware in the last six months, according to the cybersecurity research group Bitdefender(Opens in a new window). Marco Marcelline, PCMAG, 11 June 2023 Scan for any malware or adware. Washington Post, 20 Dec. 2021 During their sweep, the analysts found 28 Android apps on the Google Play app store containing adware trojans. Jacob Siegal, BGR, 27 July 2022 Adload is also an unusually persistent strain of adware. Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 2 Feb. 2022 The malware’s ultimate goal is to install adware on Macs, earning money for the fraudsters per faked clicks and views on advertisements. Thomas Brewster, Forbes, 26 Apr. 2021 Android adware apps discovered on Google Play According to Doctor Web, these trojans are built into a number of common app types. Jacob Siegal, BGR, 27 July 2022 The additions include the pushing of an aggressive second-stage adware payload that installs a persistent backdoor on infected Macs. Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 2 Feb. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'adware.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near adware

Cite this Entry

“Adware.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adware. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!