Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for

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. Compare hardware ( def 3 ).
  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

/ ˈɒڳˌɛə /

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
“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

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 .
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of software1

First recorded in 1955–60; soft + ware 1
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

An outage caused by a faulty software or server update, or even user error, can often be resolved in a matter of hours.

From

They might also have taken these offline to stop the hackers from spreading their malicious software into those previously unaffected areas.

From

As part of the process, two expert software developers reviewed the app developed by ConvrtX.

From

The Post Office told the BBC that it finally obtained rights related to the Horizon software and code in 2023, although it is not known if this includes the core system that processes transactions.

From

Like his competitors at Unitree, Mr Pierce says that the real "secret sauce" is the software that allows the robot to work with humans.

From

Advertisement

Related Words

Discover More

More About Software

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experience that directs the operation of a computer or electronic device, as in The software on my phone was so outdated, I couldn’t send texts to anyone.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

are some synonyms for software?

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

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.

Try using software!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for software?

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

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


soft tree fernsoftware house