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
Other problems included power distribution anomalies in the spacecraft’s electrical power system, which NASA has attributed to radiation and is making software changes to address.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 May 2024
West Virginia may soon be taken off that list, if retired Intuit CEO Brad Smith — the state’s richest person — continues to see his net worth climb thanks to the financial software firm’s surging stock price.
—Rocio Fabbro, Quartz, 3 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for software 
Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 May 2024
West Virginia may soon be taken off that list, if retired Intuit CEO Brad Smith — the state’s richest person — continues to see his net worth climb thanks to the financial software firm’s surging stock price.
—Rocio Fabbro, Quartz, 3 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for software
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'software.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Software.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/software. Accessed 9 May. 2024.
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software
noun
soft·ware
ˈsȯf-ˌtwa(ə)r
-ˌtwe(ə)r
: the programs and related information used by a computer
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