software

[sawft-wair, soft-]

noun

1. Computers.,  the programs used to direct the operation of a computer, as well as documentation giving instructions on how to use them.

2. 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.

3. Television Slang.,  prepackaged materials, as movies or reruns, used to fill out the major part of a station's program schedule.

software

/ ˈsɒftˌwɛə /

noun

1. computing the programs that can be used with a particular computer system Compare hardware

2. video cassettes and discs for use with a particular video system

software

1. The programs, programming languages, and data that direct the operations of a computer system. Word processing programs and Internet browsers are examples of software.

2. Compare hardware

software

1. The programs and instructions that run a computer, as opposed to the actual physical machinery and devices that compose the hardware.

Word History and Origins

Origin of software¹

First recorded in 1955–60; soft + ware ¹

Example Sentences

One of the more controversial safety mandates is for auto-braking technology systems, which use sensors, cameras and software to detect potential crashes and automatically apply the brakes.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Continuing investments in both design and downstream software will increase customer interest and retention, they said.

Read more on Barron's

The moves highlight Google’s emerging presence in the AI semiconductor space, where Nvidia maintains a commanding lead in terms of market share thanks to cutting-edge systems and software that remain the benchmark for computing performance.

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In Breton’s opinion, Palantir is the best-positioned company to survive a potential AI bubble due to the benefit that its software provides its customers.

Read more on MarketWatch

This is more about tax projection, which requires discussing forward-looking scenarios and having your advisor use modeling software.

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Related Words

• application 
• application software www.thesaurus.com
• program 

When To Use

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virtual experience that directs the operation of a computer or electronic device, as in The software on my phone was so outdated, I couldn’t send texts to anyone.Software can refer to anything that is used with hardware but is not the hardware itself.Example: The hardware is great, but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.