Freeware - Dictionary Definition and Overview

Freeware : (noun)

1: software that is provided without charge

Based on WordNet 2.0

Freeware :

Software, often written by enthusiasts and distributed at no charge by users' groups, or via the World-Wide Web, electronic mail, bulletin boards, Usenet, or other electronic media.

At one time, "freeware" was a trademark of Andrew Fluegelman. It wasn't enforced after his death.

"Freeware" should not be confused with "{free software" (roughly, software with unrestricted redistribution) or "{shareware" (software distributed without charge for which users can pay voluntarily).

http://www.freewarehof.org/sstory.html)">Jim Knopf's story (http://www.freewarehof.org/sstory.html).

[{Jargon File]

(2003-07-26)

Based on the Online Dictionary of Computing [Computer_Dictionary]:

Freeware : n. [common] Free software, often written by enthusiasts and distributed by users' groups, or via electronic mail, local bulletin boards, Usenet, or other electronic media. At one time, `freeware' was a trademark of Andrew Fluegelman, the author of the well-known MS-DOS comm program PC-TALK III. It wasn't enforced after his mysterious disappearance and presumed death in 1984. See shareware, FRS.

Based on the Online Dictionary of Computing [Computer_Dictionary]: