black hat

American  

[blak hat] / ˈblæk ˈhæt /

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.

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idioms

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

black hat British  

noun

1. informal

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

   2. ( as modifier ) Compare white hat

      black-hat hackers

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Other Word Forms

• black-hat
  adjective
• black-hatted
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of black hat

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

Compare meaning

How does black-hat compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• white hat vs. black hat

Example Sentences

After Ahmed disarmed Akram, footage showed a man in a white shirt and a black hat running at the gunman and throwing an object at him.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 19, 2025

Detectives are appealing for witnesses who may have seen Mr Rafael, who is described as a Black British national, and is believed to have been wearing an all-grey tracksuit, black hat, trainers and rucksack.

From BBC • Nov. 10, 2025

What did you bring to the scene where Glinda humiliates Elphaba, giving her that “hideodeous” black hat that she wears to the ball?

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 19, 2024

He no longer wears a black hat, either.

From Seattle Times • May 21, 2024

Rocks were crunching as the man in the black hat walked a couple of steps up the road, then stopped again.

From "Bud, Not Buddy" by Christopher Paul Curtis