Definition of hardware
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 asa : military equipmentb : 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
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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 of hardware from the Web
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British Airways grounded flights last weekend because of a hardware failure that could cost the carrier as much as 100 million euros (about $110 million).
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This year's developers conference will be the first since 2013 to introduce new hardware.
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The auction house didn’t identify the buyer of the matte white crocodile skin Hermes Birkin bag with 18 karat gold and diamond hardware at Wednesday’s sale.
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However fast starts in May are often rewarded with championship hardware in October.
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New cabinet hardware can really spiff up a bathroom vanity with minimal skill and investment.
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The event will showcase some mighty impressive miltary hardware: the B-2 Stealth Bomber, B-1 Lancer Bomber, B-52 Stratofortress Bomber, among other munitions.
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The back-seat hardware eliminates folding seat backs that would expand the trunk.
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Unsurprisingly, the full-size HP Spectre x360 packs high-end hardware, including a seventh-generation Intel Core i7 CPU and an NVIDIA GeForce 940MX graphics card with 2GB RAM.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hardware'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of hardware
15th century
HARDWARE Defined for English Language Learners
hardware
playDefinition of hardware for English Language Learners
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: things (such as tools or parts of machines) that are made of metal
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: equipment used for a particular purpose; especially : computer equipment
HARDWARE Defined for Kids
hardware
playDefinition of hardware for Students
1 : things (as tools, cutlery, or parts of machines) made of metal
2 : equipment or parts used for a particular purpose The computer system needs hardware such as monitors and keyboards.
Learn More about hardware
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See words that rhyme with hardware Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for hardware Spanish Central: Translation of hardware Nglish: Translation of hardware for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of hardware for Arabic speakers
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