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• cyber
  cyber

  noun

  (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.
• cyber-
  cyber-

  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–
  cyber–

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

cyber

¹ American  

[sahy-ber] / ˈsaɪ bər /

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.

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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 American  

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 ).

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cyber- British  

combining form

1. indicating computers

   cyberphobia

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cyber– Scientific  

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

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Usage

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.

Etymology

Origin of cyber¹

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

Origin of cyber-²

Extracted from cybernetics

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cyber cyber- cyber–

“The strategic advantage of cyber warfare lies in its stealth and ambiguity. Because it blurs the line between war and crime, attribution becomes difficult, enabling perpetrators to operate with minimal consequences.”

From Salon ● Oct. 15, 2026

Founded in 2019, Elisity offers a platform that aims to prevent cyber attackers or ransomware from spreading across organizations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026

The UK's AI minister has warned it is "likely, if not inevitable" the country's cyber defences will at some point be breached.

From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026

Narayan on Monday warned that "it seems likely, if not inevitable, that our own cyber defences will be breached".

From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026

Based on this prioritization and mapping of terrorist organizations, we will determine where to position forces and collection assets to identify terrorist ground, air, maritime, and cyber activities.

From National Strategy for Combating Terrorism February 2003 by United States. Executive Office of the President

The United States, meanwhile, has watched its room for maneuver in the region steadily shrink, hemmed in by Russian antiaircraft systems and cyber- and electronic warfare threats.

From New York Times ● Feb. 25, 2022

In a similar vein, journalists are advised to use the prefix cyber- and the terms cyberspace and cyber sparingly, and instead substitute words like internet or digital.

From Slate ● May 28, 2020

Russia and the United States have a lot to talk about, on such topics as arms control, cyber- intrusions, Ukraine, Syria and beyond.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 1, 2018

The two sides also said they would set up a high-level joint dialogue on cybercrime in which officials from both countries would be able to investigate and review allegations of cyber- intrusions.

From Washington Post ● Sep. 25, 2015

“Patrick’s mom made him erase his account, and then she made him watch a documentary with her about cyber- bullying,” Em said, her breath billowing white in the cold air and then disappearing.

From "Goodbye Stranger" by Rebecca Stead

MELBER: And another area that’s evolving in that same way is cyber– both domestic crime and also– international threats– that we’re all tryin’ to struggle to understand. 

From MSNBC ● Feb. 12, 2015

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Related Words

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