hacker

American  

[hak-er] / ˈhæk ər /

noun

• hackers
  plural

1. a person or thing that hacks.

2. Slang. a person who engages in an activity without talent or skill.

   weekend hackers on the golf course.

3. Computers.

   1. a person who has a high level of skill in computer technology or programming; a computer expert or enthusiast.

      My brother is a real hacker—he fixed my laptop in no time.

   2. a person who circumvents security and breaks into a network, computer, file, etc., often, but not always, with malicious intent.

      A hacker got into my computer remotely and wiped my hard drive!

      The company has hired hackers to test system security.

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hacker British  

/ ˈhækə /

noun

1. a person that hacks

2. slang a computer fanatic, esp one who through a personal computer breaks into the computer system of a company, government, etc

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• hackers
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of hacker

First recorded in 1200–50 hacker for def. 1; Middle English (as surname); see hack ¹, -er ¹; 1965–70 hacker for def. 2

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Explanation

A hacker is a skilled computer programmer who uses her abilities to break into the computer systems of companies or organizations. While most people imagine a hacker as a bad guy who steals credit card information, destroys data, or is otherwise malicious and destructive, some hackers break into systems simply to test their security. There are so many hackers today that they've formed a true community and subculture. The earliest use of hacker is from 1983, from hack as "person hired to do routine work," although MIT students in the 1960's reportedly used the word hack to mean "creative prank."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hacker hackers

The Portuguese computer hacker who released documents which helped trigger the Premier League investigation into Manchester City will remain in witness protection after authorities in the country suspended the decision to end it.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

The purported hacker has released snippets of the stolen client data—including Römer’s—and threatened to release more unless Revolut pays up, without publicly specifying an amount.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026

It sounds freaky when you read about how the OpenAI hacker agents all “talked” to one another on special forums—but all software, generative or not, is communicative by nature.

From Slate ● Sep. 15, 2026

Adding to Revolut’s headaches, the company is facing extortion threats from a shadowy hacker who claims to be behind the breach.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026

Where not to work if you’re a hacker who aspires to stay off government radar: the Apple Genius Bar.

From "Burning Blue" by Paul Griffin

The breach caused the company, Instructure, to temporarily take Canvas offline and interrupted classes, assignments and finals preparations for hundreds of thousands of students and professors as hackers threatened to release their personal data.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026

But it’s also true that hackers will often keep information confidential pending the outcome of a ransom demand.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026

The hackers also threatened to publish the data on their dark net website unless Synnovis paid a ransom.

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

It later emerged that hackers had obtained more detailed personal information belonging to Asos customers than the retailer initially suggested.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

“I’ve employed enough hackers to know a good one when I see one. You would’ve been discovered sooner or later.”

From "Warcross" by Marie Lu

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