software

See also: Software

English

Etymology

From soft +‎ -ware, by contrast with hardware (“the computer itself”). Coined 1953 by Paul Niquette;[1] first used in print by John Tukey 1958.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈsɔftˌwɛɹ/
  • Audio (US)(file)

Noun

software (uncountable)

  1. (computing) Encoded computer instructions, usually modifiable (unless stored in some form of unalterable memory such as ROM).
    • 1958, John W. Tukey, "The Teaching of Concrete Mathematics" in The American Mathematical Monthly, vol. 65, no. 1 (Jan. 1958), pp 1-9:
      The "software" comprising the carefully planned interpretive routines, compilers, and other aspects of automative programming are at least as important to the modern electronic calculator as its "hardware" of tubes, transistors, wires, tapes and the like.
    • 1995, Paul Niquette, Softword: Provenance for the Word ‘Software’:
      As originally conceived, the word "software" was merely an obvious way to distinguish a program from the computer itself. A program comprised sequences of changeable instructions each having the power to command the behavior of the permanently crafted machinery, the "hardware."

Usage notes

Software is a mass noun (some software, a piece of software). By non-native speakers it is sometimes erroneously treated as a countable noun (a software, some softwares).

Hyponyms

Derived terms

Descendants

Translations

See also

References
  1. "Part 0. Introduction: The Software Age", Softword: Provenance for the Word 'Software', 2006 by Paul Niquette, →ISBN, adapted from article first published in 1995 in author’s magazine, Sophisticated: The Magazine, →ISBN (archival links)

Anagrams

Czech

Etymology

Borrowed from English software.

Noun

software m

  1. (computing) software

Declension
Declension
singular plural
nominative software softwary
genitive softwaru softwarů
dative softwaru softwarům
accusative software softwary
vocative software softwary
locative softwaru softwarech
instrumental softwarem softwary

Synonyms
  • programové vybavení
  • programové prostředky (rare)

Derived terms
  • reklamní software
  • softwarový
  • svobodný software
  • vyděračský software
  • škodlivý software
  • špehovací software
  • špionážní software

See also

Further reading

Dutch

Etymology

From English software.

Pronunciation
  • Audio(file)

Noun

software m (uncountable)

  1. software (encoded computer instructions)
    Synonym: programmatuur

Derived terms

Italian

Etymology

Borrowed from English software.

Noun

software m (invariable)

  1. (computing) software (encoded computer instructions)

Norman

Etymology

Borrowed from English software.

Noun

software m (uncountable)

  1. (Jersey, computing) software (encoded computer instructions)

Portuguese

Etymology

Borrowed from English software.

Noun

software m (plural softwares)

  1. (computing) software (encoded computer instructions)

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from English software.

Noun

software n (plural (rare) software-uri)

  1. (computing) software (encoded computer instructions)

Declension
declension of software
singular plural
indefinite articulation definite articulation indefinite articulation definite articulation
nominative/accusative (un) software software-ul (niște) software-uri software-urile
genitive/dative (unui) software software-ului (unor) software-uri software-urilor
vocative software-ule software-urilor

Synonyms

Spanish

Etymology

Borrowed from English software.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈsof.weɾ/

Noun

software m (plural softwares)

  1. (computing) software (encoded computer instructions)

Synonyms

Derived terms
Expressions
  • software dañino
  • software de extorsión
  • software espía
  • software libre
  • software malicioso
  • software publicitario

See also
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