ware

Ware is a term with several related meanings in English. It most often refers to goods or merchandise that are offered for sale; the plural wares appears in historical and commercial contexts, as in household wares, dry goods, or trade wares. The word derives from Old English ware, meaning goods or merchandise, and is cognate with German Ware and Dutch Waar.

In modern usage, ware forms the suffix of many category terms that describe a class of manufactured goods. Examples include hardware (tools and fixtures), software (computer programs), tableware and kitchenware (dishes, utensils), glassware (glasses and glass objects), earthenware and stoneware (types of pottery). The suffix implies a particular class rather than a single item.

Ware also appears as a proper noun. It is the name of places, notably Ware in Hertfordshire, England, and Ware in Massachusetts, United States. It is also a surname used in English-speaking countries.

The term is found in historical trade records and contemporary product labeling alike, reflecting its broad association with manufactured goods and their categories.