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

Cvetanovski added that the AI spending boom has continued to overwhelmingly benefit hardware makers as companies race to build computing capacity. — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 15 July 2026

As massive investments in artificial intelligence and data centers have spurred demand for computing hardware, Chinese manufacturers are capitalizing on the opportunity. — Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 15 July 2026

Semiconductors and computing equipment paved the way for the export demand growth amid the spike in global demand for AI hardware, while automobile shipments surpassed 1 million in a month for the first time. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 15 July 2026

Despite the more serious spec sheet, the hardware is still built around portability. — New Atlas, 15 July 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