firmware

noun

firm·​ware ˈfərm-ˌwer How to pronounce firmware (audio)
: computer programs contained permanently in a hardware device (such as a read-only memory)

Examples of firmware in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Other factors, including the sensor and its placement and the keyboard’s polling rate and firmware, can affect a keyboard’s peak sensitivity. — ArsTechnica, 5 Oct. 2026 In some cases, users also need to manually open the Chromebook and disconnect the battery to disable the firmware write protection, a not-so-user-friendly process. — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 5 Oct. 2026 Customers across South Korea found that their almost $4,000 appliance suddenly shut down after a faulty firmware update, turning them into an expensive — and fresh food ruining — brick. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 23 Sep. 2026 Perhaps more unusually at this price, the firmware is open source, with JetKVM saying its new ESP32 firmware will be available from day one. — New Atlas, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for firmware

Word History

First Known Use

1967, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of firmware was in 1967

Rhymes for firmware

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Browse Nearby Words

firm up
firmware
firn
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Cite this Entry

“Firmware.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/firmware. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

firmware

noun
firm·​ware ˈfərm-ˌwa(ə)r How to pronounce firmware (audio)
-ˌwe(ə)r
: computer programs contained permanently in a hardware device (as a read-only memory)

More from Merriam-Webster on firmware

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about firmware

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