bit rot

noun

The putative tendency of content in storage to become corrupt over time.

Similar
bit decaysoftware rotcode rot
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Meanings

nounbit rot (uncountable)

alternative bitrot

  1. uncountablecomputingThe putative tendency of content in storage to become corrupt over time.

    The rise of gaming has its own place in the story of digital culture, but Cerf warns that important political and historical documents will also be lost to bit rot.

    2015 February 13, Ian Sample, “Google boss warns of 'forgotten century' with email and photos at risk”, in The Guardian

    Synonyms: bit decay, software rot

  2. uncountablecomputingThe tendency of software in storage to develop bugs over time due to minor incompatibilities with newer operating environments.

    Synonyms: bit decay, software rot, code rot

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe putative tendency of content in storage to become corrupt over time.

Similar
bit decaysoftware rot

nounThe tendency of software in storage to develop bugs over time due to minor incompatibilities with newer operating environments.

Similar
bit decaysoftware rotcode rot
Also see
bit decaycode rotsoftware rot
Cite this entry
APA

bit rot. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bit%20rot

MLA

“bit rot.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bit%20rot. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “bit rot,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bit%20rot.

Source: bit rot on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.