Standard Lemma guide

retroware

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • rĕt′rō-wâr′
  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈɹɛt.ɹəʊˌwɛə/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /-ˌwɛː/
  • Canada, General-American: /ˈɹɛt.ɹoʊˌwɛɹ/
  • General-American: /-ˌweɹ/
  • Australian: /ˈɹet.ɹəʉˌweː/
  • New-Zealand: /ˈɹet.ɹəʉˌweə̯/
  • Scotland: /ˈɹɛt.ɹoˌweɹ/
  • rhymes with -ɛtɹəʊwɛə
  • rhymes with -ɛtɹəʊwɛː

1

noun

Meaning 1

Old software/hardware.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal, uncountable, usually

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, programming, sciences, software

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Blend of retro + software /hardware, or from retro- (“old-fashioned or old-school”) + -ware (“software”). First attested in 1995, but in common usage only as of the 21st century.