bloatware

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bloatware

Where it comes from

From bloat + -ware. Originally in the sense “unwieldy software”; the sense “pre-installed software” has become predominant since the 2010s.

noun

informal, uncountable Software that is packed with too many features and therefore slow or unwieldy; software that is inefficiently designed and occupies an excessive amount of memory or disk space. Today’s software development cycle does not allow time to optimize and refine products, and that leads to bloatware.
Similar: fatware
uncountable Unwanted pre-installed software, especially on a smartphone. If consumers didn't like the bloatware that came with their phones, other manufacturers wouldn't include it, the bad actors would lose customers, and everyone would have to adjust.
Similar: crapware, foistware

Translations

Every language

noun software that is overpacked with features

Español	software inflado
日本語	ブロートウェア burōtowea
Français	obésiciel, obésitiel, boufficiel, inflagiciel, bloatware

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MLA

"bloatware." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/bloatware. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

bloatware. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/bloatware

Chicago

"bloatware." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/bloatware.

BibTeX

@misc{bloatware_2026,
  title = {bloatware},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/bloatware},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}