Meanings
- derogatoryslanguncountablecomputingExceptionally low-quality software.
From start to finish, it is a poorly conceived, ill-executed, and time-wasting piece of coasterware designed to suck money away from both fans of the much-lauded series and unsuspecting newcomers.
2003 November 1, “Europa Universalis: Crown of the North”, in Computer Gaming WorldSynonyms: cheeseware, crapware, crudware, shitware
Synonyms & antonyms
nounExceptionally low-quality software.
Origin
- Latincosta
- Latincosticāre
- Old Frenchcostoier
- Middle Englishcosteien
- Englishcoast
- Englishcoaster
- Proto-Indo-European*sem-
- Proto-Germanic*samþuz /*samftuz
- Proto-West Germanic*samft(ī)
- Old Englishsōfte
- Middle Englishsofte
- Englishsoft
- Proto-Germanic*warō
- Proto-West Germanic*waru
- Old Englishwaru
- Middle Englishware
- Englishsoftwarebf.
- Englishcoasterware
From coaster + -ware, from the jocular notion that the disc containing the software is more useful as a drink coaster.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
coasterware. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/coasterware
“coasterware.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/coasterware. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “coasterware,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/coasterware.
Source: coasterware on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.