closed-source software

noun

UK /kləʊzd sɔːs ˈsɒftweə/

US /kloʊzd sɔːrs ˈsɔːftwer/

Software whose code is secret and only the company can change it.

Microsoft Windows is closed-source software because you cannot see or edit its code.

SYNONYMS

proprietary software non-free software commercial software private software

RELATED WORDS

source code license open-source software binary copyright

OTHER MEANINGS

2. Software distributed only as compiled files, with no access to the human-readable code.

The app was shipped as closed-source software, so developers could not inspect it.

3. A business model where a company keeps its code private to protect its product.

Their closed-source software strategy helped them keep control of the market.

4. Software that users must pay for or license and cannot freely share.

The school avoided closed-source software to save money on licenses.