hacker

[ hak-er ]

/ ˈhæk ər /

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noun

a person or thing that hacks.

Slang. a person who engages in an activity without talent or skill: weekend hackers on the golf course.

Computers.

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.
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.Compare black hat (def. 2), gray hat, white hat (def. 2).

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Origin of hacker

First recorded in 1200–50 for def. 1; Middle English (as surname); see hack¹, -er¹;1965–70 for def. 2

Words nearby hacker

hackathon, hackberry, hack board, hackbut, Hackensack, hacker, hackery, hackette, hack hammer, hack house, hackie

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use hacker in a sentence

The hackers typically threaten to publish the victim’s files if the ransom isn’t paid.
Elon Musk confirms Tesla was target of foiled ransomware attack|Kirsten Korosec|August 28, 2020|TechCrunch
An investigation determined that while the first call had been genuine, the second had come from scammers who’d paid a hacker for Xu’s number, admissions status, and request for financial aid.
Inside China’s unexpected quest to protect data privacy|Tate Ryan-Mosley|August 19, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Western intelligence services allege that Russia has already deployed a team of hackers known as Cozy Bear to extract vaccine secrets from UK and US servers.
Every country wants a covid-19 vaccine. Who will get it first?|Katie McLean|August 13, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Russia has tried various tactics to get in front of the competition, with hackers in the country reportedly trying to steal vaccine data from the United States, Great Britain and Canada.
Here’s what we know about Russia’s unverified coronavirus vaccine|Tina Hesman Saey|August 11, 2020|Science News

On top of improving the efficiency, the team has tackled some of the potential side-channel attacks that a hacker could use to compromise the secure link.
China Takes Another Step Towards Uncrackable Quantum Communication|Edd Gent|June 15, 2020|Singularity Hub
After a bunch of tough talk, this round of the hacker-on-hacker fight nevered materialized.
The Attack on the Hidden Internet|Marc Rogers|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Until recently, the hacker collective known as Lizard Squad was all but unknown.
The Attack on the Hidden Internet|Marc Rogers|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Surely only an advanced hacker could mastermind such a fiendish act — right?
A Female Writer’s New Milestone: Her First Death Threat|Annie Gaus|December 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the real world, he said, a hacker is more likely interested in stealing records he can sell than in harming a patient.
How Your Pacemaker Will Get Hacked|Kaiser Health News|November 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Four days later, 4.6 million Snapchat usernames and phone numbers were compromised and leaked online by a hacker.
‘The Snappening’ Is Real: 90,000 Private Photos and 9,000 Hacked Snapchat Videos Leak Online|Marlow Stern|October 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A teenage hacker-turned-hero pits himself against the government to fight for his basic freedoms.
Little Brother|Cory Doctorow
The funding was kicked off by some tech millionaires who couldn't believe that a bunch of hacker kids had kicked the DHS's ass.
Little Brother|Cory Doctorow
Any complex system is sport for a hacker; a side effect of this is the hacker's natural affinity for problems involving security.
Little Brother|Cory Doctorow
However, the motivations of a hacker are typically as simple as Im an engineer because I like to design things.
Little Brother|Cory Doctorow
Colonel Hacker again admonished me to go home, and keep no more meetings.
George Fox|George Fox

British Dictionary definitions for hacker

hacker

/ (ˈhækə) /

noun

a person that hacks

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

hacker

Origin of hacker

Words nearby hacker

Words related to hacker

How to use hacker in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for hacker