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

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

But little of this scheme—described as a system of “sham” payments by the Premier League—would have come to light without years of investigations or the work of a Portuguese hacker known as Rui Pinto.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 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

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

Why has he reappeared as a hacker, trying to stop Hideo?

From "Warcross" by Marie Lu

The hackers tracked a Russian military helicopter to a location near a local airport where they discovered a previously unknown Russian air base.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026

In 2024, Russian hackers commandeered residential webcams in Kyiv, including one installed by a condominium association to monitor the neighborhood.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026

The hackers were able to rotate and zoom the camera, allowing them to monitor Russian helicopters, submarines and ships.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026

But it is renowned for its tough stance on protecting users' privacy - it hides who is sending a message from its own servers, limiting the data available to outside observers or hackers.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

Unlike the hackers in movies who always scurried about in the shadows, Charlotte liked to engage people in conversation.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

Related Words

• operator
• technician