software
Americannoun
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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virtual experience that directs the operation of a computer or electronic device, as in The software on my phone was so outdated, I couldn’t send texts to anyone.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:
While robot servers nabbed some fun headlines, slow and spotty Wi-Fi, aging devices and confusing order-placing software were making it difficult for staff to serve customers, he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
Weaker areas are application and vertical software owing to worries about fallout from automated AI workflows.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
The scandal erupted in September 2015 when German automaker Volkswagen admitted fitting millions of vehicles with software to make engines appear less polluting in regulatory tests than in real driving conditions.
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026
Sam Lewis, a 32-year-old software engineer living in Stockport, used Merlin for several years before he was inspired to build his own bird ID app, Lifer.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
The Yorktown’s computers had just received new software that was controlling the engines.
From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife
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
The San Jose, California-based company has been shifting its focus toward softwares including videoconferencing tool WebEx and cybersecurity services to help clients adapt to online workspaces.
From Reuters ● Nov. 17, 2021
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.
