firmware

noun

firm·​ware ˈfərm-ˌwer 

: computer programs contained permanently in a hardware device (such as a read-only memory)

Examples of firmware in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Keep router firmware up to date and avoid sharing your network with unknown devices. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 31 Dec. 2025

The app further supports over-the-air firmware updates, allowing new features without hardware changes, while real-time visuals track recovery during use. —Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 31 Dec. 2025

If the gadget connects to a phone or computer, check for firmware updates, which can fix problems. —Larry Magid, Mercury News, 25 Dec. 2025

Apps for streaming services like Disney+, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video etc are then installed, usually through the proprietary firmware on the stick. —Alexander Cox, Space.com, 18 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1967, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for firmware

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

Kids Definition

firmware

noun

firm·​ware ˈfərm-ˌwa(ə)r 

-ˌwe(ə)r

: computer programs contained permanently in a hardware device (as a read-only memory)