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
Researchers, detection software makers and the FTC say that technology like this can't be the only solution to the challenges posed by generative AI tools.
—Huo Jingnan, NPR, 10 Apr. 2024
Microsoft reportedly locked down a server last month that exposed passwords, keys, and credentials of Microsoft employees to the open internet, as the company faces mounting pressure to bolster its software security.
—Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 10 Apr. 2024
Other investments include two insurance businesses and a software company.
—Maggie Haberman, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024
In February that year, 360,000 Tesla vehicles with its Full Self-Driving Beta software were also recalled.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 8 Apr. 2024
OpenAI allegedly used Whisper, its AI transcription software, to collect more data to train GPT-4, the latest and greatest model underlying ChatGPT.
—Maxwell Zeff / Gizmodo, Quartz, 8 Apr. 2024
Programmers have the tools to make software leaner and greener.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 Apr. 2024
In 2023, Neil Fernandes paid $1,700 a year for Farmers Insurance coverage for his home in Santa Clarita, California, where the 42-year-old software engineer lives with his wife and child.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 29 Mar. 2024
These include cameras on train cars, scanning software to determine who dodge the subway fare, and robot dogs.
—Oscar Gonzalez / Gizmodo, Quartz, 29 Mar. 2024
Huo Jingnan, NPR, 10 Apr. 2024
Microsoft reportedly locked down a server last month that exposed passwords, keys, and credentials of Microsoft employees to the open internet, as the company faces mounting pressure to bolster its software security.
—Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 10 Apr. 2024
Other investments include two insurance businesses and a software company.
—Maggie Haberman, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024
In February that year, 360,000 Tesla vehicles with its Full Self-Driving Beta software were also recalled.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 8 Apr. 2024
OpenAI allegedly used Whisper, its AI transcription software, to collect more data to train GPT-4, the latest and greatest model underlying ChatGPT.
—Maxwell Zeff / Gizmodo, Quartz, 8 Apr. 2024
Programmers have the tools to make software leaner and greener.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 Apr. 2024
In 2023, Neil Fernandes paid $1,700 a year for Farmers Insurance coverage for his home in Santa Clarita, California, where the 42-year-old software engineer lives with his wife and child.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 29 Mar. 2024
These include cameras on train cars, scanning software to determine who dodge the subway fare, and robot dogs.
—Oscar Gonzalez / Gizmodo, Quartz, 29 Mar. 2024
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.
Dictionary Entries Near software
Cite this Entry
“Software.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/software. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
software
noun
soft·ware
ˈsȯf-ˌtwa(ə)r
-ˌtwe(ə)r
: the programs and related information used by a computer
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