sharewaren.
/ˈʃɛːwɛː/, U.S. /ˈʃɛrˌwɛ(ə)r/ Computing (originally U.S.).
Software, often distributed informally, which typically has limited functionality and is available free of charge for trial use, after which a fee is usually requested for continued use or full functionality. Cf. freeware n. at free adj., n., and adv. Compounds 2.
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1983 InfoWorld 30 May 48/1 This is the tenth article in the series on shareware, software available for free or for a mere copying charge from the CP/M User's Group or other free program libraries.
1989 Daily Tel. 19 Jan. 27/5 As some of the best value software..is available to anybody who can dial the right telephone number, the field of shareware and public domain software is a seam worth mining.
1996 Internet World Apr. 52/1 With these products, many of which are freeware and shareware programs, you compose the text of your document in a simple editor.
2008 ‘R. Keeland’ tr. S. Larsson Girl with Dragon Tattoo ix. 150 One of those full-value products that two men at the Royal Technical College had created and distributed as shareware for a pittance on the Internet.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2022).
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n.1983