hacker
Americannoun
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a person or thing that hacks.
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Slang. a person who engages in an activity without talent or skill.
weekend hackers on the golf course.
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Computers.
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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.
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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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noun
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a person that hacks
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slang a computer fanatic, esp one who through a personal computer breaks into the computer system of a company, government, etc
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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."
Vocabulary lists containing hacker
Computer Science and Technology - Introductory
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Computer Science and Technology - Middle School
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Computer Science and Technology - High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It’s funny because one of my favorite movies, as every good hacker ‘80s kid would tell you, is “WarGames.”
From Salon • Jun. 22, 2026
In the wrong hands, an exploit would give a hacker the ability to edit any website built with Ghost.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 17, 2026
The hacker sent by Anthropic to calm the government’s nerves about AI safety.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 17, 2026
In May 2022, the hacker went through the firm's network and took over administrator privileges — the highest level of system access to the IT network, the ICO said.
From BBC • May 12, 2026
They said that they had identified him, and that he was a hacker and a naysayer of the worst kind.
From "Feed" by M.T. Anderson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
