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

Examples of software in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Cisco is positioning its latest silicon, systems, optics, and management software as a single AI networking stack. —Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 11 Feb. 2026

That was despite Kaley’s mother’s attempts to use third-party software to block access to the platforms, according to her complaint. —Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026

Also on the list was Blue Owl Capital , which tumbled more than 21% in three weeks through Friday as investors reassessed private credit providers’ exposure to application software companies. —Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 10 Feb. 2026

The selloff mirrored the global panic over the tech’s impact on the software industry. —J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 10 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1958, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for software

• abwehr
• affair
• affaire
• airfare
• altair
• armchair
• aware
• beware
• bugbear
• carfare
• childcare
• compare

Kids Definition

software

noun

soft·​ware ˈsȯf-ˌtwa(ə)r 

-ˌtwe(ə)r

: the programs and related information used by a computer