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

Commentators and analysts took to their podcasts and social media accounts to guess which cyber crime group or nation state hacker might be behind it.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

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

The lanky 35-year-old is a well-respected hacker who’s considered the industry’s “professional skeptic” of AI cybersecurity claims.

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

I don’t know what Henka Games does when they catch a hacker, but they’ll ban me from the game for sure.

From "Warcross" by Marie Lu

The FT, citing researchers at Israeli AI company Dream, said hackers had used open-source AI agents to build an autonomous tool to carry out the attack.

From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026

Overseas hackers used artificial intelligence agents to help carry out a wave of cyberattacks targeting Taiwanese government agencies in July, the island's digital affairs ministry said Thursday.

From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026

The agencies warned that Iran-affiliated hackers were targeting internet-connected industrial controllers “to cause disruptive effects within the United States.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 9, 2026

The EPA has warned that hackers who penetrate a water system could also alter treatment chemicals to hazardous levels.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 8, 2026

“I found where the hackers have been. Don’t you want to see?”

From "On the Far Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George

Related Words

• operator
• technician