software
noun
soft·ware
ˈsȯft-ˌwer 
: something used or associated with and usually contrasted with hardware: such as
a
: programs for a computer
accounting software
b
dated
: the entire set of programs, procedures, and related documentation associated with a mechanical or electronic system and especially a computer system
c
: materials for use with audiovisual equipment
… television programs, music, and movies are now called software, by the way …—
Robert Bixby
Robert BixbyExamples of software in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Aarathi Rajamanickam, a neighbor and software-engineering manager in the banking sector, has served as Tejasvi’s mentor for several years and regularly provided counsel.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
Its core software dates back to the early 1980s, and only a few programmers remain who understand the intricacies of its more than 60 million lines of code.
—Eli Hager, ProPublica, 8 Sep. 2025
Tan, whose sartorial preference is a black T-shirt, recently shared his new game plan with senior editor John Kang—pivoting to make his company an AI gaming software champ.
—Naazneen Karmali, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
But Andersen was far from wowed, instead expressing his disappointment in the tech titan for its products and positioning — specifically, its lack of focus on developing its software capabilities and catching up to peers on the artificial intelligence front.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for software
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
Its core software dates back to the early 1980s, and only a few programmers remain who understand the intricacies of its more than 60 million lines of code.
—Eli Hager, ProPublica, 8 Sep. 2025
Tan, whose sartorial preference is a black T-shirt, recently shared his new game plan with senior editor John Kang—pivoting to make his company an AI gaming software champ.
—Naazneen Karmali, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
But Andersen was far from wowed, instead expressing his disappointment in the tech titan for its products and positioning — specifically, its lack of focus on developing its software capabilities and catching up to peers on the artificial intelligence front.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for software
Cite this Entry
“Software.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/software. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
software
noun
soft·ware
ˈsȯf-ˌtwa(ə)r
-ˌtwe(ə)r
: the programs and related information used by a computer
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share