hardware

noun

hard·​ware ˈhärd-ˌwer 

1

: ware (such as fittings, cutlery, tools, utensils, or parts of machines) made of metal

2

: major items of equipment or their components used for a particular purpose

educational hardware

: such as

a

: military equipment

b

: the physical components (such as electronic and electrical devices) of a vehicle (such as a spacecraft) or an apparatus (such as a computer)

3

: an award (such as a trophy, medal, or cup) given in a sports competition

Synonyms of hardware

• equipment
• gear
• apparatus

Examples of hardware in a Sentence

She bought some new hardware for her system.

gathered together the hardware needed to set up a first aid station at the finish line for the marathon

Recent Examples on the Web

As Chinese companies have rushed to develop AI models and hardware that can rival that of the US, the government has also carefully rolled out incremental measures to maintain social stability. — Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 23 July 2026

The Robandee dates back to the 1970s and was once a thriving shopping center with a grocery store, a roller rink, a hardware store, a florist, local restaurants and other businesses for the neighborhood. — Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026

Featured on the spring 2026 ready-to-wear runway, the style leans into the biker aesthetic with double buckle straps adding hardware into the mix. — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 22 July 2026

Having tested several Brilliant products over the years, I’ve always been impressed by the hardware. — Paul Lamkin, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing hardware

• hardware cloth

Rhymes for hardware

• abwehr
• affair
• affaire
• airfare
• altair
• armchair
• aware
• beware
• bugbear
• carfare
• childcare
• compare

Kids Definition

hardware

noun

hard·​ware ˈhär-ˌdwa(ə)r 

-ˌdwe(ə)r

1

: articles (as fittings, cutlery, tools, utensils, or parts of machines) made of metal

2

: the equipment used for a particular purpose

computer hardware

military hardware