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
Etymology
Origin of hacker
First recorded in 1200–50 hacker for def. 1; Middle English (as surname); 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 genuinely scary how fast this hacker finds her apartment.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026
And on Wednesday, cybersecurity firm Gambit Security revealed that roughly 150 gigabytes of data were stolen from 10 Mexican government bodies and a single financial institution by a hacker using Claude and OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 28, 2026
He was the host of Hack Me if You Can, a three-part podcast profile of the Russian hacker Dmitry Smilyanets, produced by the Journal.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026
Intelligence analysts scrutinise millions of data points -- from web addresses and malware variants to hacker code names -- that could provide leads in active investigations.
From Barron's • Feb. 15, 2026
The third, and most crucial, was to conceal any hint that she was a hacker too.
From "City Spies" by James Ponti
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.
