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.
Some can automatically block malicious websites, ransomware, adware, and phishing attempts and even scan devices on your network to flag potential security issues. Simon Hill, WIRED, 2 Nov. 2024 This prevents the tracking and correlation possible with federated identities like Facebook logins, mitigating spyware and adware risks. Alastair Johnson, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2024 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 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

Dictionary Entries Near adware

Cite this Entry

“Adware.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adware. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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