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
The online education company, founded 20 years ago, has been hit by the rise of generative AI software tools, such as OpenAI's ChatGPT, which have become increasingly popular among students.
—Annie Palmer, CNBC, 28 Oct. 2025
The concept is a console user interface for straightforward play, with Windows available underneath for broader software support, additional storefronts and a wider range of game types.
—Alex Harrington, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Oct. 2025
The company has formed a strategic alliance with Vobile — which provides digital content asset protection and software services used widely in the industry — and its chairman and CEO, Yangbin Wang, on financing.
—Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
Purushotham argued that build versus buy is often not an either/or, though his team stays apprised of what Citi’s 30,000 software developers are working on.
—Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for software
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Annie Palmer, CNBC, 28 Oct. 2025
The concept is a console user interface for straightforward play, with Windows available underneath for broader software support, additional storefronts and a wider range of game types.
—Alex Harrington, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Oct. 2025
The company has formed a strategic alliance with Vobile — which provides digital content asset protection and software services used widely in the industry — and its chairman and CEO, Yangbin Wang, on financing.
—Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
Purushotham argued that build versus buy is often not an either/or, though his team stays apprised of what Citi’s 30,000 software developers are working on.
—Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 27 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 28 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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