read-only memory

noun

A computer memory chip that stores values but does not allow updates, in which the values are nonvolatile in that they are retained even when the computer is unpowered.

Similar
ROMread-only storagefixed storage
Opposite
write-only memory
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Meanings

nounread-only memory (countable and uncountable, plural read-only memories)

plural read-only memories

  1. countableuncountablecomputingA computer memory chip that stores values but does not allow updates, in which the values are nonvolatile in that they are retained even when the computer is unpowered.

    Synonyms: ROM

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA computer memory chip that stores values but does not allow updates, in which the values are nonvolatile in that they are retained even when the computer is unpowered.

Similar
ROM
Opposite
write-only memory

More synonyms by meaning

noun(computer science) memory whose contents can be accessed and read but cannot be changed

Similar
ROMread-only storagefixed storage
Broader
memorycomputer memorystorage
Also see
rom

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Chinese Cantonese 唯讀記憶體 /唯读记忆体
  • 唯讀記憶體 /唯读记忆体 (wai⁴ duk⁶ gei³ jik¹ tai²)memory chip that stores values but doesn't allow updates
Chinese Mandarin 只讀內存 /只读内存, 只讀存儲器 /只读存储器
  • 只讀內存 /只读内存 (zhǐ dú nèicún)memory chip that stores values but doesn't allow updates
  • 只讀存儲器 /只读存储器 (zhǐdú cúnchǔqì, zhǐdú cúnchúqì)memory chip that stores values but doesn't allow updates
  • 唯讀記憶體 /唯读记忆体 (wéi dú jìyì tǐ)memory chip that stores values but doesn't allow updates
  • 唯讀儲存器 /唯读储存器 (wéidú chǔcúnqì, chúcúnqì)memory chip that stores values but doesn't allow updates
Danish rom
  • rommemory chip that stores values but doesn't allow updates
Esperanto nurlegebla memoro
  • nurlegebla memoromemory chip that stores values but doesn't allow updates
Finnish lukumuisti
  • lukumuistimemory chip that stores values but doesn't allow updates
French mémoire morte, mémoire fixe
  • mémoire mortememory chip that stores values but doesn't allow updates
  • mémoire fixememory chip that stores values but doesn't allow updates
  • mémoire ROMmemory chip that stores values but doesn't allow updates
  • mémoire à lecture seulememory chip that stores values but doesn't allow updates
German Festwertspeicher, Nur-Lese-Speicher
  • Festwertspeichermemory chip that stores values but doesn't allow updates
  • Nur-Lese-Speichermemory chip that stores values but doesn't allow updates
Greek μνήμη μόνο ανάγνωσης
  • μνήμη μόνο ανάγνωσης (mními móno anágnosis)memory chip that stores values but doesn't allow updates
Icelandic lesminni
  • lesminnimemory chip that stores values but doesn't allow updates
Indonesian memori hanya baca
  • memori hanya bacamemory chip that stores values but doesn't allow updates
Irish cuimhne inléite amháin
  • cuimhne inléite amháinmemory chip that stores values but doesn't allow updates
Italian memoria a sola lettura, memoria ROM
  • memoria a sola letturamemory chip that stores values but doesn't allow updates
  • memoria ROMmemory chip that stores values but doesn't allow updates
Japanese 読み出し専用メモリ, ROM
  • 読み出し専用メモリ (yomidashi sen'yō memori)memory chip that stores values but doesn't allow updates
  • ROM (romu)memory chip that stores values but doesn't allow updates
Latvian lasāmatmiņa
  • lasāmatmiņamemory chip that stores values but doesn't allow updates
Malay ingatan baca sahaja
  • ingatan baca sahajamemory chip that stores values but doesn't allow updates
Polish pamięć tylko do odczytu
  • pamięć tylko do odczytumemory chip that stores values but doesn't allow updates
Portuguese memória somente de leitura, memória ROM
  • memória somente de leituramemory chip that stores values but doesn't allow updates
  • memória ROMmemory chip that stores values but doesn't allow updates
Russian постоянное запоминающее устро́йство, ПЗУ
  • постоянное запоминающее устро́йство (postojannoje zapominajuščeje ustrójstvo)memory chip that stores values but doesn't allow updates
  • ПЗУ (PZU)memory chip that stores values but doesn't allow updates
Slovak permanentná pamäť
  • permanentná pamäťmemory chip that stores values but doesn't allow updates
Spanish memoria de solo lectura, memoria ROM
  • memoria de solo lecturamemory chip that stores values but doesn't allow updates
  • memoria ROMmemory chip that stores values but doesn't allow updates
Ukrainian постійний запам'ятовувач
  • постійний запам'ятовувач (postijnyj zapamʺjatovuvač)memory chip that stores values but doesn't allow updates
Vietnamese bộ nhớ chỉ đọc
  • bộ nhớ chỉ đọcmemory chip that stores values but doesn't allow updates
Welsh cof darllen yn unig
  • cof darllen yn unigmemory chip that stores values but doesn't allow updates
Cite this entry
APA

read-only memory. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/read-only%20memory

MLA

“read-only memory.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/read-only%20memory. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “read-only memory,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/read-only%20memory.

Source: read-only memory on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.