vaporware

American  

[vey-per-wair] / ˈveɪ pərˌwɛər /

noun

1. Computer Slang. a product, especially software, that is promoted or marketed while it is still in development and that may never be produced.

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Etymology

Origin of vaporware

vapor + -ware

Explanation

In computer terminology, vaporware is used for products that don't exist yet, despite the fact that they're already being advertised. A lot of vaporware never becomes available at all. After you see ads for a cool new computer game, it might be months (or years) before you can buy it. In some cases, you'll never be able to buy this vaporware. Sometimes it takes so long for developers to finish a product that other companies get there first, releasing their own version and making the vaporware obsolete. Imagine a product that's announced with great fanfare and then never heard about again, as though it's vanished in a puff of vapor: hence the term vaporware.

Example Sentences

You’re right that quantum computing was vaporware for decades.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 28, 2025

Investment firms such as Andreessen Horowitz have declared that “it’s time to build” real world-changing companies, only to pour billions into crypto-hype vaporware.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 9, 2023

Automatic translation is limited to English and Chinese, and it’s not as seamless as, say, those vaporware glasses Google asked us to imagine in May.

From The Verge • Jul. 11, 2022

Often, demoware becomes vaporware, announced for shock and awe in order to discourage competitors, but never released at all.

From Scientific American • Jun. 6, 2022

For examples, see annoyware, careware, crippleware, crudware, freeware, fritterware, guiltware, liveware, meatware, payware, psychedelicware, shareware, shelfware, vaporware, wetware.

From The Jargon File, Version 4.2.2, 20 Aug 2000 by Steele, Guy L.

Related Words

• application
• application software
• program