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
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
Brass hardware from Corston Architectural Detail, chalk pastels and bold wood trim painted a marigold color brought everything together.
—
Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
Putin presided over a parade that featured hardware such as the Geran-2, the Russian version of Iran’s Shahed drone, and played host to friendly leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping.
—Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2026
With recent collaborations with tech titans like NVIDIA and hardware experts like Kinova, AtkinsRéalis is building an ecosystem where the next generation of energy is managed by machines that never tire and fear nothing, even the invisible glow of a reactor core.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Apr. 2026
With the right hardware, business owners can go further and give permission to the police to use a camera’s livestream function.
—Ryan Oehrli
april 29, Charlotte Observer, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hardware
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
Putin presided over a parade that featured hardware such as the Geran-2, the Russian version of Iran’s Shahed drone, and played host to friendly leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping.
—Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2026
With recent collaborations with tech titans like NVIDIA and hardware experts like Kinova, AtkinsRéalis is building an ecosystem where the next generation of energy is managed by machines that never tire and fear nothing, even the invisible glow of a reactor core.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Apr. 2026
With the right hardware, business owners can go further and give permission to the police to use a camera’s livestream function.
—Ryan Oehrli
april 29, Charlotte Observer, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hardware
Cite this Entry
“Hardware.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hardware. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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