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

• 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

Application-Specific Semiconductors Yes, specialized hardware has played a big role. —John Werner, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025

Its workforce and supplier base continue to drive innovation as the company pushes additive manufacturing deeper into space hardware. —Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025

Advertisement Despite the fact that Perseverance has been diligently filling its tubes and leaving them on the surface, none of the other hardware for the complicated MSR relay has been built. —Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 11 Sep. 2025

The question is whether that hardware expands or merely entertains. —Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 11 Sep. 2025

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