abandonware

noun

aban·​don·​ware ə-ˈban-dən-ˌwer How to pronounce abandonware (audio)
computing
: software that is no longer sold or supported by its creator
… thousands of private collectors post source code online for so-called abandonware—games that no longer are published or supported by the companies that created them.Clay Risen

Word History

Etymology

abandon entry 1 + -ware (as in software)

First Known Use

2000, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of abandonware was in 2000

Dictionary Entries Near abandonware

Cite this Entry

“Abandonware.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abandonware. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!