software
noun
soft·ware
ˈsȯft-ˌwer 
: something used or associated with and usually contrasted with hardware: such as
a
: programs for a computer
accounting software
b
dated
: the entire set of programs, procedures, and related documentation associated with a mechanical or electronic system and especially a computer system
c
: materials for use with audiovisual equipment
… television programs, music, and movies are now called software, by the way …—
Robert Bixby
Robert BixbyExamples of software in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
As cloud infrastructure matures and enterprises seek flexibility, software-as-a-service (SaaS) and leasing models are rapidly gaining ground.
—Ni Tao, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2025
Employees moved about, pulling items for upcoming projects or consulting Airtable, a software program that Saft uses to catalogue Staged to Sell’s collection.
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Building a genome from scratch means that software tools similar to word processors can be used to easily search and replace strings of letters, or cut and paste code blocks.
—Big Think, 20 Oct. 2025
The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware and potentially access your private information is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for software
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Ni Tao, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2025
Employees moved about, pulling items for upcoming projects or consulting Airtable, a software program that Saft uses to catalogue Staged to Sell’s collection.
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Building a genome from scratch means that software tools similar to word processors can be used to easily search and replace strings of letters, or cut and paste code blocks.
—Big Think, 20 Oct. 2025
The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware and potentially access your private information is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for software
Cite this Entry
“Software.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/software. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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software
noun
soft·ware
ˈsȯf-ˌtwa(ə)r
-ˌtwe(ə)r
: the programs and related information used by a computer
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