hardware

noun

hard·​ware ˈhärd-ˌwer 

1

: ware (such as fittings, cutlery, tools, utensils, or parts of machines) made of metal

2

: major items of equipment or their components used for a particular purpose

educational hardware

: such as

a

: military equipment

b

: the physical components (such as electronic and electrical devices) of a vehicle (such as a spacecraft) or an apparatus (such as a computer)

3

: an award (such as a trophy, medal, or cup) given in a sports competition

Synonyms of hardware

• equipment
• gear
• apparatus

Examples of hardware in a Sentence

She bought some new hardware for her system.

gathered together the hardware needed to set up a first aid station at the finish line for the marathon

Recent Examples on the Web

The two-tone speed machine utilized a lot of pre-existing hardware but did feature an all-new chassis and composite bodywork, made from a mixture of carbon fiber and Kevlar. —Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 2 Apr. 2026

Potential customers favored sticking to terrestrial facilities because they could be brought online quicker and be upgraded with the latest hardware — a more crucial capability than ever, because AI chips are constantly improving. —Frank Landymore, Futurism, 2 Apr. 2026

Incredibly, both of these spacecraft are still functional in deep space, despite relying on vintage hardware older than many of NASA’s engineers today. —Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 2 Apr. 2026

Founded in 1976, the company originally developed computerized ticketing software and hardware systems for venues and promoters. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing hardware

• hardware cloth

Rhymes for hardware

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

Kids Definition

hardware

noun

hard·​ware ˈhär-ˌdwa(ə)r 

-ˌdwe(ə)r

1

: articles (as fittings, cutlery, tools, utensils, or parts of machines) made of metal

2

: the equipment used for a particular purpose

computer hardware

military hardware