# spyware

> English word · Noun · frequency rank #41,386

## Definitions
1. Programs that surreptitiously monitor and report the actions of a computer user.

## Etymology
From spy + -ware.

## Easily confused with
- **spare** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spare-vs-spyware)
- **skyward** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/skyward-vs-spyware)

## Common misspellings (11)
`psyware`, `sppyware`, `spwyare`, `spyawre`, `spywaer`, `spywarre`, `spywrae`, `spywware`, `spyyware`, `sspyware`, `sypware`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/spyware