software
Americannoun
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softwares
plural
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Computers. the programs used to direct the operation of a computer, as well as documentation giving instructions on how to use them.
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anything that is not hardware but is used with hardware, especially audiovisual materials, as film, tapes, records, etc..
a studio fully equipped but lacking software.
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Television Slang. prepackaged materials, as movies or reruns, used to fill out the major part of a station's program schedule.
noun
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computing the programs that can be used with a particular computer system Compare hardware
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video cassettes and discs for use with a particular video system
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The programs, programming languages, and data that direct the operations of a computer system. Word processing programs and Internet browsers are examples of software.
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Compare hardware
Usage
What is software? Software is a program or virtual experience that directs the operation of a computer or electronic device, as in The software on my phone was so outdated, I couldn’t send texts to anyone. Software can refer to anything that is used with hardware but is not the hardware itself. Example: The hardware is great, but there just isn’t enough software to back it up.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of software
Explanation
In computer science, software is a computer program you can load on your computer. Software includes everything from operating systems to game programs. The word software was first used in print in 1958 by John Tukey, a statistician. Some experts suggest the actual word was coined in 1953 as a joke by Paul Niquette. He used the word to refer to the programs for a computer — as opposed to the hardware that made up the physical computer. You can purchase software, install software, and even fix software bugs.
Vocabulary lists containing software
Computer Science and Technology - Introductory
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Computer Science and Technology - Middle School
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Computer Science and Technology - High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Both are running on the same software that “Fortnite,” the hugely popular online video game, runs on.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026
Until then, it’s a good idea to keep your system software updated and use a strong password.
From Salon ● Aug. 17, 2026
Sainsbury's head office contacted Arnold the following day to apologise, maintaining the incident had been caused by "human error" rather than software failure.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
Dan Miller, a 43-year-old software developer in Raleigh, N.C., found the banana hooks he made to hang under his cabinet weren’t strong enough to support certain loads.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026
In fact, geeks repeatedly cite the nearly universal need for people who can cope with computers and software as the primary reason for their elevation to a new techno-elite.
From "Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho" by Jon Katz
And with some of these softwares selling down to 10, 11, or 12 times earnings, you’ve got to say, ‘Actually, maybe they’re not as shocking businesses as you think.’
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 30, 2026
Experts at the lab used computer softwares to add muscles, flesh and skin to the scans of skulls, bringing out their facial features.
From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2025
All of the companies facing lawsuits used ALPRs, which harness A.I. computer vision technology to scan and track plates—the same technology is employed by face- and image-recognition softwares.
From Slate ● Sep. 24, 2024
Moreover, such softwares use predetermined words to isolate human sounds, while the sound made by victims may vary based on the situation.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 6, 2024
Is the old-fashioned method of using pen & paper better and, perhaps, more efficient than online softwares?
From Salon ● Aug. 20, 2022
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
