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Definition of bloatware

bloatware

/ˈbloʊtˌwɛr/
bloat · ware
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bloatware Lexical Profile

bloatware Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Unwanted software pre-installed by a manufacturer on a new computer or mobile device that consumes storage space and system resources.

Example

"After buying the new smartphone, she spent an hour uninstalling all the pre-loaded bloatware."

2

Computer software whose usefulness is reduced because of the excessive disk space and memory it requires due to an abundance of unnecessary features.

Example

"The latest version of the media player has turned into bloatware, taking nearly a minute just to launch."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for bloatware

• Nearby Words

bloated
bloatedness
bloating
bloatware
blob
blobby
blobfish

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the late 1980s or early 1990s in computing jargon as a blend of 'bloat' and 'software', modeled on earlier terms like 'freeware' and 'shareware'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Bloatware. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/bloatware
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