Etymology Map
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Program

3 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means a planned series of events; a set of instructions for a computer

Where does the word "program" come from? It comes from Greek programma, passing through French before entering English (1940s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
programma
Greek · ancient
"public notice"
'pro', before, plus 'graphein', to write: a public notice posted in advance
2
Stage 2 of 3
programme
French · 1700s
"agenda, playbill"
a list of events or performers
3
Stage 3 of 3
program
English · 1940s
"set of computer instructions"
applied to computer instructions; British English keeps 'program' only for this sense
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Read the full story

Program’s story begins in Greek: programma meant “public notice.” 'pro', before, plus 'graphein', to write: a public notice posted in advance. By 1700s, the word had taken hold in French as programme. A list of events or performers. It reached English by 1940s as program. Applied to computer instructions; British English keeps 'program' only for this sense. Today, program means a planned series of events; a set of instructions for a computer.