software

[ sawft-wair, soft- ]

/ ˈsɔftˌwɛər, ˈsɒft- /

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See synonyms for software on Thesaurus.com

noun

Computers. the programs used to direct the operation of a computer, as well as documentation giving instructions on how to use them.Compare hardware (def. 3).

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.

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

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Origin of software

First recorded in 1955–60; soft + ware¹

Words nearby software

soft tick, soft tissue, soft-top, soft touch, soft tree fern, software, software house, software platform, soft wheat, softwood, softy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT SOFTWARE

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virtual experience that directs the operation of a computer or electronic device, as in The software on my phone was so outdated, I couldn’t send texts to anyone.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.

Where does software come from?

The first records of the term software come from the mid-1900s. It combines the term soft, in this instance meaning “not hard” and “easily moved or swayed,” and ware, meaning “an item or product.” Software is used in contrast with hardware, which is the physical machine that runs the software.

Software is usually a name for anything that runs on hardware, such as the operating system (Windows, Mac OS), a program such as a web browser, a piece that manages or completes tasks (volume mixer or a game), or any digital entertainment product.

Software can also be stored on hardware, such as DVDs, video game cartridges, music discs, and even tapes. Because of the nature of computer programming and hardware management, software will be coded in different computing languages that limit what hardware a certain piece of software can work on.

Did you know … ?

What are some synonyms for software?

What are some words that share a root or word element with software?

What are some words that often get used in discussing software?

How is software used in real life?

Thanks to the popularity of computing, software is a common term for the programs that run on computers and related devices.

Tesla software V10.0 comes with karaoke 🎤

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 9, 2019

I just tried to export the video and it did the same thing as the last one, there's definitely something wrong with my software

— Nash Grier (@Nashgrier) January 19, 2015

Two things that I did in the past few days that deserve some respect are update my phone software and birth a human.

— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) August 28, 2019

Try using software!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for software?

A. program
B. process
C. application
D. computer

How to use software in a sentence

This way the government agency would have to certify only the company’s software and safety plans, not the airframes and engines.
Cessna makes history by taking off and landing with no one aboard. Here’s how|Jeremy Kahn|August 26, 2020|Fortune
Following previous cases at Uber and Google, Pinterest and software company Carta have become this year’s most recent cautionary tales.
How to be a fair-pay CEO|matthewheimer|August 25, 2020|Fortune
Just 6% of Congress today has any tech or software background.
Brynne Kennedy could be the first female tech founder to serve in Congress|ehinchliffe|August 24, 2020|Fortune
In general, “there’s more dark matter,” especially as some ad blocking software is designed to go undetected, Krátký-Katz said.
‘The inevitable maturation of the industry’: Desktop ad blocking is past its peak|Lara O'Reilly|August 20, 2020|Digiday

The Note20 Ultra’s 50X mode is still a little difficult to use, but Samsung has improved its software to make it easier to focus.
Samsung Note20 Ultra review: Why this big phone works for the COVID era|Aaron Pressman|August 18, 2020|Fortune
“The U.S. Navy will attain IOC [initial operational capability] in 2018 with 3F software,” DellaVedova wrote.
Pentagon Misfires in Stealth Jet Scandal|Dave Majumdar|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In fact, according to F-35 program sources, the next software upgrades are not yet fully defined nor are they fully funded.
Pentagon Misfires in Stealth Jet Scandal|Dave Majumdar|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Now it can't open on my phone due to what appears to be software incompatibility.
My Week on Jewish Tinder|Emily Shire|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But the F-35 has been plagued with massive delays and cost overruns—mostly due to design defects and software issues.
New U.S. Stealth Jet Can’t Fire Its Gun Until 2019|Dave Majumdar|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The income of a software engineering intern at Facebook is comparable, with monthly incomes of over $6,500.
Silicon Valley Interns Make a Service Worker’s Yearly Salary In Three Months|Samantha Allen|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A major contributing factor to the persistent popularity of the PDP-8 is that the software support is so extensive.
On-Line Data-Acquisition Systems in Nuclear Physics, 1969|H. W. Fulbright et al.
Multiprogramming software is necessary in order to utilize this available time.
On-Line Data-Acquisition Systems in Nuclear Physics, 1969|H. W. Fulbright et al.
In this case difficulties lie in guessing the reliability of the devices and in achieving software compatibility.
On-Line Data-Acquisition Systems in Nuclear Physics, 1969|H. W. Fulbright et al.
Also, one hesitates to trade in an old computer for which an excellent software collection exists!
On-Line Data-Acquisition Systems in Nuclear Physics, 1969|H. W. Fulbright et al.
Also, how much trouble will be encountered with manufacturers' I/O software, and how much will any necessary rewriting cost?
On-Line Data-Acquisition Systems in Nuclear Physics, 1969|H. W. Fulbright et al.

British Dictionary definitions for software

software

/ (ˈsɒftˌwɛə) /

noun

computing the programs that can be used with a particular computer systemCompare hardware (def. 2)

video cassettes and discs for use with a particular video system

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for software

software

[ sôft′wâr′ ]

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

Cultural definitions for software

software

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

software

Origin of software

Words nearby software

MORE ABOUT SOFTWARE

What is software?

Where does software come from?

Did you know … ?

How is software used in real life?

Try using software!

Words related to software

How to use software in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for software

Scientific definitions for software

Cultural definitions for software