software
- 01 C2 Proficiency
the people involved in a war, rather than the weapons or vehicles.
the human element of a military operation or organization, contrasted with hardware such as weaponry and equipment.
Simple“The general argued that the army needed better training for its software, not just new tanks.”
In context“Strategic analysts often emphasize that the quality of military software—the soldiers and their tactical training—is as critical as the hardware they operate.”
Teacher's tipThis is a highly specialized metaphor used in defense and strategic circles; it is not common in everyday conversation.
Usage software development · software updates · presentation software
From soft + -ware, by contrast with hardware (“the computer itself”). Coined by John Tukey in 1958.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.