History of Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word is a well known word processing software developed by Microsoft. Microsoft Word or Microsoft Office Word was initially released in 1983. It was meant for the XENIX systems in the beginning. But as it grew, Microsoft Word was rewritten so it can support several other platforms such as DOS, Macintosh, UNIX, OS/2, and Windows. In 2003, Microsoft Word became part of the Microsoft’s complete office suite software known as the Microsoft Office. Thus the name ‘Microsoft Word’ officially changed to ‘Microsoft Office Word’.

Microsoft Word Version Release History

1983
- Word 1 for MS-DOS

1985
- Word 2 for MS-DOS
- Word 1 for Macintosh

1986
- Word 3 for MS-DOS

1987
- Word 4 for MS-DOS (Titled Microsoft Word 4.0 for the PC)
- Word 3 for Macintosh

1989
- Word 5 for MS-DOS
- Word 4 for Macintosh
- Word for Windows 1.0. (code name ‘Opus’)

1990
- Word for Windows 1.1 (code name ‘Bill the Cat’)
- Word for Windows 3.1

1991
- Word 5.1 for MS-DOS
- Word 5 for Macintosh
- Word for Windows 2.0 (code name ‘Spaceman Spiff’)

1992
- Word for OS/2 version 1.1B

1993
- Word 6.0 for MS-DOS
- Word 6 for Macintosh
- Word for Windows 6.0 (code name ‘T3’)

1995
- Word for Windows 95

1997
- Word for Windows 97

1998
- Word 98 for Macintosh

1999
- Word 2000 for Windows

2000
- Word 2001 for Macintosh

2001
- Word 2002 for Windows
- Word v.X for Macintosh (only for Mac OS version X)

2003
- Word 2003 for Windows. Officially named Microsoft Office Word 2003. Also known as Word 11.

2004
- Word 2004 for Macintosh

2006
- Microsoft Office Word 2007. Also known as Word 12

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