black hat

[blak hat]

noun

Informal.

1. a villain, as in a cowboy movie; bad guy.

2. Also called black hat hacker. Computers.,  a hacker who violates the security of a system without the knowledge or consent of the owner or developer, as for personal profit or for the gratification of causing damage.

black hat

noun

1. informal

   1. a computer hacker who carries out illegal malicious hacking work

   2. ( as modifier ) Compare white hat

      black-hat hackers

Other Word Forms

• black-hat adjective
• black-hatted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of black hat¹

First recorded in 1955–60 black hat for def. 1, and in 1990–95 black hat for def. 2; from the black hat worn by the villain in a cowboy movie

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. wear / put on a black hat, to behave villainously.