Standard Lemma guide

warez

noun · verb · 2 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.

  • /wɛə(ɹ)z/
  • uncommon: /wɑːɹɛz/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɛə(ɹ)z
  • homophone: wares
  • homophone: wears
  • homophone: where's (wine–whine merger)
  • CMU ARPABET: W EH1 R Z Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Software that is illegally obtained or distributed.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Internet, Leet, dated, uncountable, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To obtain a copy of (software or other works of authorship) illegally.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Internet, Leet, dated

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

The leetspeak form of wares, as a contraction of software.

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Georgian: ვარეზი (varezi) — software illegally obtained or distributed
  • Japanese: 割れ (ware) — software illegally obtained or distributed
  • Japanese: 割れもの (waremono) — software illegally obtained or distributed
  • Japanese: ワレズ (warezu) — software illegally obtained or distributed
  • Korean: 와레즈 (warejeu) — software illegally obtained or distributed
  • Polish: warez — software illegally obtained or distributed
  • Russian: варез (varez) — software illegally obtained or distributed
  • Finnish: warettaa — copy illegally
  • Japanese: 割る (waru) — copy illegally