-ware

/-wɛ(ə)//-wɛɹ/

suffix

Used to form nouns denoting, collectively, items made from a particular substance.

“gift + -ware → giftware”

OriginMiddle English ware ← Old English waru ← Proto-West Germanic *waru →
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Meanings

-ware1

suffix-ware (noun-forming suffix, countable and uncountable, plural -wares)

plural -wares

  1. countableuncountableUsed to form nouns denoting, collectively, items made from a particular substance.

    glass + -ware → glassware

  2. countableuncountableUsed to form nouns denoting, collectively, items made in a particular place.

    Abruzzi + -ware → Abruzzi ware

  3. countableuncountableUsed to form nouns denoting, collectively, items of a particular kind or for a particular use.

    gift + -ware → giftware

-ware2

suffix-ware (noun-forming suffix, uncountable)
  1. uncountablecomputingUsed to form mass nouns denoting specific classes of computer software, based on use, function, or method of distribution.

Origin

-ware · suffix

  1. Proto-Germanic*warō
  2. Proto-West Germanic*waru
  3. Old Englishwaru
  4. Middle Englishware
  5. English-ware

From Middle English ware, from Old English waru, from Proto-West Germanic *waru, from Proto-Germanic *warō, with meaning gradually shifting from guard, protection to an object that is in possession, hence meriting attention, guarded, cared for, and protected.

More words from Middle English, Old English, Proto-West Germanic

Full word history & related roots →

-ware · suffix

  1. Proto-Indo-European*sem-
  2. Proto-Germanic*samþuz /*samftuz
  3. Proto-West Germanic*samft(ī)
  4. Old Englishsōfte
  5. Middle Englishsofte
  6. Englishsoft
  7. Proto-Germanic*warō
  8. Proto-West Germanic*waru
  9. Old Englishwaru
  10. Middle Englishware
  11. Englishsoftwarebf.
  12. English-ware

Back-formation from software. See also ware and warehouse.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish -esineet, -tavara
  • -esineetdenoting items made from a particular substance
  • -tavaradenoting items made from a particular substance
  • -esineetdenoting items of a particular kind or for a particular use
  • -tavaradenoting items of a particular kind or for a particular use
  • -ohjelmatdenoting specific classes of computer software
French -ciel
  • -cieldenoting specific classes of computer software
Hungarian -áru, -tárgy
  • -árudenoting items made from a particular substance
  • -tárgydenoting items of a particular kind or for a particular use
Malay perisian
  • perisiandenoting specific classes of computer software
Welsh -wedd
  • -wedddenoting specific classes of computer software

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with -ware

aretherewherecarecompareairsharehairmaryrepairfairbearwearrarelayerpairawareprepareprayermayorterrorPierresparebare
All rhymes →

Sounds the same

-wear-wear
Cite this entry
APA

-ware. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-ware

MLA

“-ware.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-ware. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “-ware,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-ware.

Source: -ware on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.