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
Bureaucracy encoded in software does not bend.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2026
The software could shave weeks off the process, and hopefully, in the future, businesses like the Good Luck Club can serve the community more quickly.
—Chierstin Roth, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
This article was generated by the Bay Area Home Report Bot, software that analyzes home sales or other data and creates an article based on a template created by humans.
—Bay Area Home Report, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026
The Grok software, created by Musk’s company xAI, made the images at the request of users who tried to break through undressing restrictions the service put in place in January.
—David Ingram, NBC news, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for software
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Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2026
The software could shave weeks off the process, and hopefully, in the future, businesses like the Good Luck Club can serve the community more quickly.
—Chierstin Roth, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
This article was generated by the Bay Area Home Report Bot, software that analyzes home sales or other data and creates an article based on a template created by humans.
—Bay Area Home Report, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026
The Grok software, created by Musk’s company xAI, made the images at the request of users who tried to break through undressing restrictions the service put in place in January.
—David Ingram, NBC news, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for software
Cite this Entry
“Software.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/software. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
software
noun
soft·ware
ˈsȯf-ˌtwa(ə)r
-ˌtwe(ə)r
: the programs and related information used by a computer
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