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

Examples of software in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This article was generated by the Kansas City Star Bot, artificial intelligence software that analyzes structured information from TomTom and applies it to templates created by journalists in the newsroom. —Kansas City Star Bot, Kansas City Star, 25 Jan. 2025

Victims are then pressured to download malicious software, enabling scammers to access their devices remotely. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025

In another scenario, a mid-sized software client competing against giants like Amazon transformed its customer engagement strategy by solving a critical data integration challenge. —Rajiv Shesh, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025

The way this works is relatively simple in concept; TVs and computer software have done it for decades. —Michael Justin Allen Sexton, PCMAG, 24 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1958, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

software

noun

soft·​ware ˈsȯf-ˌtwa(ə)r 

-ˌtwe(ə)r

: the programs and related information used by a computer