firmware

noun

firm·​ware ˈfərm-ˌwer How to pronounce firmware (audio)
: computer programs contained permanently in a hardware device (such as a read-only memory)

Examples of firmware in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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But assuming the firmware on newer models can be patched in a similar manner, expanding the project’s compatibility should be possible. — Andrew Liszewski, The Verge, 29 Oct. 2026 Defenders across the world face the burden of responding to yet another botched code-execution vulnerability, this time in boot-time firmware used by most of the world’s server vendors and data centers. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 27 Oct. 2026 Again, Bose has also promised post-launch firmware updates, adding Google Find Hub, Alexa+, and an Apple Music shortcut. — Christian De Looper, PC Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for firmware

Word History

First Known Use

1967, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of firmware was in 1967

Rhymes for firmware

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Browse Nearby Words

firm up
firmware
firn
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Cite this Entry

“Firmware.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/firmware. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

firmware

noun
firm·​ware ˈfərm-ˌwa(ə)r How to pronounce firmware (audio)
-ˌwe(ə)r
: computer programs contained permanently in a hardware device (as a read-only memory)

More from Merriam-Webster on firmware

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about firmware

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