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

Travellers were delayed at a number of European airports in September after a ransomware attack disrupted check-in and boarding software.

Read more on BBC

Demand for chips and other hardware for data centers should continue to be strong, while AI software could be in the early stages of growth.

Read more on Barron's

While AMD’s hardware is sophisticated enough to compete with its bigger rival, the article said, its software platform was full of bugs and impossible to use in large-scale AI training.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

More than half of Nvidia’s engineers focus on software, highlighting its importance in the company’s AI strategy.

Read more on Barron's

The “Standard” versions have the hardware and software to run Autopilot, but Tesla appears to want to push people into the higher-priced driver assistance product.

Read more on Barron's

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experience that directs the operation of a computer or electronic device, as in The software on my phone was so outdated, I couldn’t send texts to anyone.Software can refer to anything that is used with hardware but is not the hardware itself.Example: The hardware is great, but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