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• ware
  ware

  noun

  Usually wares
• -ware
  -ware

  a combining form extracted from software, occurring as the final element in words that refer to a specified kind or class of software.
• –ware
  –ware

  A suffix that means “software,” as in shareware.

ware

¹ American  

[wair] / wɛər /

noun

1. Usually wares

   1. articles of merchandise or manufacture; goods.

      a peddler selling his wares.

   2. any intangible items, as services or products of artistic or intellectual creativity, that are saleable.

      an actor advertising his wares.

2. a specified kind or class of merchandise or of manufactured article (usually used in combination).

   silverware;

   glassware.

3. pottery, or a particular kind of pottery.

   delft ware.

4. Archaeology. a group of ceramic types classified according to paste and texture, surface modification, as burnish or glaze, and decorative motifs rather than shape and color.

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ware ² American  

[wair] / wɛər /

adjective

1. watchful, wary, or cautious.

2. aware; conscious.

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verb (used with object)

wared, waring

1. to beware of (usually used in the imperative).

ware ³ American  

[wair] / wɛər /

verb (used with object)

Scot. and North England.

wared, waring

1. to spend; expend.

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ware ⁴ American  

[wair] / wɛər /

noun

Scot. and North England.

1. the first season in the year; spring.

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-ware ⁵ American  

1. a combining form extracted from software, occurring as the final element in words that refer to a specified kind or class of software.

   spyware;

   shareware.

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ware ¹ British  

/ wɛə /

verb

1. another word for beware

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adjective

1. another word for wary wise 1

ware ² British  

/ wɛə /

verb

1. dialect (tr) to spend or squander

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ware ³ British  

/ wɛə /

noun

1. (functioning as singular) articles of the same kind or material

   glassware

   silverware

2. porcelain or pottery of a specified type

   agateware

   jasper ware

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–ware Scientific  

1. A suffix that means “software,” as in shareware.

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Usage

What does -ware mean? The combining form -ware is used like a suffix meaning “software,” a program used to direct a computer. It is occasionally used in technical terms, especially in computer science. The form -ware comes from the word software. The word software itself was coined around 1955 to contrast with hardware, a much older term used to refer to mechanical equipment. Learn more at our entry for hardware.

Etymology

Origin of ware¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English waru; cognate with German Ware

Origin of ware²

First recorded before 900; Middle English adjective; Old English adjective wær; cognate with German gewahr “aware,” Old Norse varr “aware”

Origin of ware³

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Old Norse verja “to spend, invest”

Origin of ware⁴

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old Norse vār “spring”; perhaps akin to Latin vēr, Greek éar “spring”; see vernal

Explanation

Ware is a particular type of item — luster ware is a kind of ceramic with a shiny metallic finish. Fiesta ware is a brand of colorful tabletop china that first became popular in the 1930s. The word shows up as a suffix, too — software, silverware, dinnerware — where it means articles of the same type or within the same category. A warehouse is a place where goods or raw materials are stored. When the word's plural, it means merchandise — when you display your wares in your shop, you're showing what you've got for sale.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ware -ware wared waring

And when war headlines give way to the damage the ware has done to global growth prospects, stocks will struggle to recover.

From Barron's ● Mar. 27, 2026

Nichols’s large donation of ceramics to the museum included an Izumo ware teapot glazed in the creamy buttermilk hue that distinguishes its type.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 12, 2025

The paintings would capture people in their homes and the ceramic vessels, as a metaphor for himself as an artist in service of his subject, would be serving ware — plates, cups, bowls, bottles.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2025

The boxes cost $50 for an assortment of pots, pans and other Le Creuset ware valued, in total, around $300.

From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2025

But the main ware was something else, something flat, roundish and white.

From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel

See also careware, charityware, crippleware, freeware, FRS, guiltware, postcardware, and -ware; compare payware.

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

See also careware, charityware, crippleware, FRS, guiltware, postcardware, and -ware; compare payware.

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

But she wared that “the vital issues identified in this case will not disappear or be appropriately addressed without focused State attention, resources, ongoing serious evaluation by independent cybersecurity experts, and open-mindedness.”

From Washington Times ● Oct. 11, 2020

Showing how some of the feuds in Chapelizod wared fiercer, and others were solemnly condoned 158 XXXVIII.

From The House by the Church-Yard by Le Fanu, Joseph Sheridan

The best blessing they wared on him was, 'Deil scowp wi' Redgauntlet!'

From Redgauntlet by Scott, Walter, Sir

I haiff bein ready to giff my lyff whar it was nocht halff sa weill wared, at the pleasour of my God.

From Andrew Melville Famous Scots Series by Morison, William

"Better than some of her children, I believe," said Bucklaw, "or there would be little love wared on the matter."

From The Bride of Lammermoor by Scott, Walter, Sir

Alexander Lewis, the son of the defendant, carried out various repairs on the car but nothing on the waring system as this was something the garage was not able to do.

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026

Though the crowd of about 1,000 coalition donors was not waring red yarmulkes with the word “Trump,” as in years past, their support of him was on display early.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 28, 2023

As hopes faded for a truce between Sudan’s waring factions, it became clear that the U.S.

From New York Times ● Apr. 23, 2023

Gwyneth Paltrow stunned at the 2011 Met Gala waring a sequined Stella McCartney column gown and nude peep-toe pumps.

From Fox News ● Sep. 13, 2021

Immediately after, orders were given to let fly all our sheets forward, and then I perceived that they were waring ship.

From Afloat and Ashore A Sea Tale by Cooper, James Fenimore

Related Words

• commodity
• fabric
• merchandise
• textile