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Definition of spyware

spyware

/ˈspaɪˌwɛr/
spy · ware
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spyware Lexical Profile

spyware Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Malicious software that secretly monitors a user's activity on a computer or mobile device and transmits personal data, such as passwords or browsing habits, to a third party without consent.

Example

"The security update removed the spyware that had been secretly recording her keystrokes."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
View all antonyms for spyware

• Rhymes for spyware

• Nearby Words

spyhole
spymaster
spyplane
spyware
squab
squabble
squad

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the 1990s as a blend of 'spy' and 'software', patterned after earlier computing terms such as 'hardware' and 'shareware'.

Cite this Entry

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