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

But to help root out the fraud, many community colleges have turned to a growing marketplace of identity verification software vendors. —ABC News, 28 Jan. 2026

Once clear, the groups installed malware by removing the hard drive and installing the software directly, replacing the hard drive with one preloaded with Ploutus, or connecting an external device, such as a thumb drive, to deploy the malware. —Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 27 Jan. 2026

The software involved is open-source, meaning it can be freely copied or adapted by others. —Joe Wertz, Arkansas Online, 27 Jan. 2026

For instance, early last year, Amodei said that within six to nine months, AI would be writing up to 90% of software code. —Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 27 Jan. 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