software
SAWFT-wair/ˈsɔf(t)ˌwɛɹ/UKSOFT-wair/ˈsɒf(t)ˌwɛə/
- 1Programs and instructions that tell a computer what to do.
Like a recipe that tells a cook exactly which steps to follow.
You can download new software from the internet.
The school updated the software on all its computers.
UsageSay a piece of software (not
incorrect: a software).Similarprograms, applications, code
Oppositehardware
Note
Less common meaning
- 2The people who fight in a war, rather than the weapons and machines.
The Americans have devoted their attention to the hardware of disarmament: Europeans can make a special contribution to the 'software' or human content of detente.
1989, Christopher Layton, A Step Beyond Fear: Building a European Security Community
Use it in a sentence
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Origin
Made from 'soft' plus '-ware', the opposite of 'hardware' (the computer itself). John Tukey made up the word in 1958.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts
- The computing word was formed from soft plus -ware. en.wiktionary.org
- The word was formed in contrast with hardware, meaning the computer itself. en.wiktionary.org
- John Tukey coined the computing word in 1958. en.wiktionary.org