cyber

¹

[sahy-ber]

noun

1. (used alone as a substitute for many compound words that begin with the combining form cyber-, as cyberattack, cybersecurity, cyberterrorism, orcyberwarfare ): Ethical hackers are being recruited for careers in cyber.

   GPS may be vulnerable to jamming and cyber.

   Ethical hackers are being recruited for careers in cyber.

adjective

1. of or relating to computers, typically to one of the technology domains named with the combining form cyber-, as cyberterrorism, cyberwarfare, or cyberattack: several cyber breaches; cyber plots.

   a cyber threat;

   several cyber breaches;

   cyber operations;

   cyber plots.

verb (used without object)

1. to engage in cybersex.

   People playing the MMO were cybering in voice chat, sometimes without even creating a separate channel to keep it private.

cyber-

²

Digital Technology.

1. a combining form meaning “computer,” “computer network,” or “virtual reality,” used in the formation of compound words (cybertalk; cyberart; cyberspace ) and by extension meaning “expressing visions of the future” (cyberfashion ).

cyber-

combining form

1. indicating computers

   cyberphobia

cyber–

1. A prefix that means “computer” or “computer network,” as in cyberspace, the electronic medium in which online communication takes place.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cyber–¹

First recorded in 1990–95; from cyber- ( def. )

Origin of cyber–²

Extracted from cybernetics

Word History and Origins

Origin of cyber–¹

C20: back formation from _cybernetics

Example Sentences

Yet China has been linked to some large scale cyber operations.

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Next was not the only retailer to benefit from the impact of the M&S cyber-attack with Sainsbury's reporting a boost in sales due to the cyber disruption.

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Commvault—which helps clients restore data and operations following cyber incidents—is leaning into AI itself, launching tools that protect AI workloads and using the technology to enhance its own platform.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

F5 expects revenue in its current fiscal year to take a hit from a recent cyber attack that compromised software used by government agencies.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The cyber attack caused three months of disruption to TfL last year, and affected live Tube information, online journey history, and payments on the Oyster app.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• computerized www.thesaurus.com

When To Use

What does cyber- mean?

Cyber- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “computer” or "computer network." In many instances, it is used to refer generally to the internet. It is often used in technical terms, especially in computer science.Cyber- comes from a shortening of the term cybernetics, meaning “the study of communication and control in humans and mechanical systems.” Cybernetics ultimately comes from Greek kybernḗtēs, meaning "helmsman" or "steersman.” Learn more about cybernetics (and how it is related to the word govern) at our entry for the term.