adware

A1D2W4A1R1E1
UK/ˈædˌwɛə/US/ˈædˌwɛɚ/

noun

A software application that includes advertisements, which are displayed while the software is running. Developers use adware as a source of income and to keep the costs of the software down (usually making it free). Some adware programs can include spyware.

OriginEnglish softwarebf. ← Middle English ware ← Old English waru →
CommonScrabble 10
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Meanings

nounadware (uncountable)
  1. uncountablecomputingA software application that includes advertisements, which are displayed while the software is running. Developers use adware as a source of income and to keep the costs of the software down (usually making it free). Some adware programs can include spyware.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂éd
  2. Proto-Italic*ad
  3. Proto-Italic*ad-
  4. Latinad-
  5. Proto-Indo-European*wert-
  6. Proto-Indo-European*wértetor
  7. Proto-Italic*wertō
  8. Latinvertō
  9. Latinadvertō
  10. Old Frenchavertir
  11. Middle Frenchadvertir
  12. Middle Frenchadvertissement
  13. Englishadvertisementclip.
  14. Englishad
  15. Proto-Indo-European*sem-
  16. Proto-Germanic*samþuz /*samftuz
  17. Proto-West Germanic*samft(ī)
  18. Old Englishsōfte
  19. Middle Englishsofte
  20. Englishsoft
  21. Proto-Germanic*warō
  22. Proto-West Germanic*waru
  23. Old Englishwaru
  24. Middle Englishware
  25. Englishsoftwarebf.
  26. Englishadware

From ad + -ware.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 廣告軟件 /广告软件
  • 廣告軟件 /广告软件 (guǎnggào ruǎnjiàn)software application
Czech adware, reklamní program
  • adwaresoftware application
  • reklamní programsoftware application
  • reklamní softwaresoftware application
Estonian reklaamvara
  • reklaamvarasoftware application
Finnish mainosohjelma
  • mainosohjelmasoftware application
French publiciel, logiciel publicitaire
  • publicielsoftware application
  • logiciel publicitairesoftware application
  • logiciel de publicitésoftware application
Hungarian reklámprogram, reklámszoftver
  • reklámprogramsoftware application
  • reklámszoftversoftware application
Indonesian peranti iklan
  • peranti iklansoftware application
Irish bogearraí fógraíochta
  • bogearraí fógraíochtasoftware application
Japanese アドウェア
  • アドウェア (adowea)software application
Korean 애드웨어
  • 애드웨어 (aedeuweeo)software application
Latvian reklāmprogrammatūra
  • reklāmprogrammatūrasoftware application
Malay perisian iklan, ڤرايسين اعلان
  • perisian iklansoftware application
  • ڤرايسين اعلان (perisian i'lan)software application
Norwegian reklameprogram
  • reklameprogramsoftware application
Polish oprogramowanie reklamowe, adware
  • oprogramowanie reklamowesoftware application
  • adwaresoftware application
Portuguese adware
  • adwaresoftware application
Russian рекла́мное ПО, рекламная программа
  • рекла́мное ПО (reklámnoje PO)software application
  • рекламная программа (reklamnaja programma)software application
Slovak advér, reklamný softvér
  • advérsoftware application
  • reklamný softvérsoftware application
Spanish programa publicitario, software publicitario
  • programa publicitariosoftware application
  • software publicitariosoftware application
  • adwaresoftware application
Swedish reklamprogram, annonsprogram
  • reklamprogramsoftware application
  • annonsprogramsoftware application
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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