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

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

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

Our water system’s decentralized, fragmented nature, perhaps a bit like our electoral system, is a double-edged sword, inasmuch as its vulnerabilities are atomized—at least a single hacker can’t contaminate all the water in the country.

From Slate ● Aug. 19, 2026

Both OpenAI, the hacker, and the victim, Hugging Face, have portrayed the response to this incident as a collaboration.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026

In an emergency video call with hundreds of cyber-security professionals, the firm described how the AI worked at superhuman speed but also made strange decisions and mistakes that no human hacker would have made.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

This hacker looked like it was from the future.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

I asked Violet, “Your father, he’s a college professor, but he was too busy to come see you after you like completely collapsed from a hacker attack? Too busy?”

From "Feed" by M.T. Anderson

In March, pro-Iran hackers hit Stryker, another medical-device company.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

US law enforcement on Tuesday announced the seizure of internet domains allegedly used by Chinese hackers to target government agencies and critical infrastructure.

From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026

The hackers claim to be leaking these gameplays as an act of protest and have a list of demands, which include a physical disc of the game, which Rockstar previously said it would not release.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026

The Department of Justice said the hackers were part of an alleged "sweeping, state-sponsored" effort to steal data.

From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026

I imagined a news story—girl hackers obsessed with billionaire boy.

From "Turtles All the Way Down" by John Green

Related Words

• operator
• technician