hacker

[ hak-er ]

noun

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: Compare black hat ( def 2 ), gray hat, white hat ( def 2 ).

      A hacker got into my computer remotely and wiped my hard drive!

      The company has hired hackers to test system security.

hacker

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of hacker¹

First recorded in 1200–50 hacker fordef 1; Middle English (as surname); hack ¹, -er ¹; 1965–70 hacker fordef 2

Example Sentences

The hackers typically threaten to publish the victim’s files if the ransom isn’t paid.

From TechCrunch

An investigation determined that while the first call had been genuine, the second had come from scammers who’d paid a hacker for Xu’s number, admissions status, and request for financial aid.

From MIT Technology Review

Western intelligence services allege that Russia has already deployed a team of hackers known as Cozy Bear to extract vaccine secrets from UK and US servers.

From MIT Technology Review

Russia has tried various tactics to get in front of the competition, with hackers in the country reportedly trying to steal vaccine data from the United States, Great Britain and Canada.

From Science News

On top of improving the efficiency, the team has tackled some of the potential side-channel attacks that a hacker could use to compromise the secure link.

From Singularity Hub 

After a bunch of tough talk, this round of the hacker-on-hacker fight nevered materialized.

From The Daily Beast

Until recently, the hacker collective known as Lizard Squad was all but unknown.

From The Daily Beast

Surely only an advanced hacker could mastermind such a fiendish act — right?

From The Daily Beast

In the real world, he said, a hacker is more likely interested in stealing records he can sell than in harming a patient.

From The Daily Beast

Four days later, 4.6 million Snapchat usernames and phone numbers were compromised and leaked online by a hacker.

From The Daily Beast

A teenage hacker-turned-hero pits himself against the government to fight for his basic freedoms.

From Project Gutenberg

The funding was kicked off by some tech millionaires who couldn't believe that a bunch of hacker kids had kicked the DHS's ass.

From Project Gutenberg

Any complex system is sport for a hacker; a side effect of this is the hacker's natural affinity for problems involving security.

From Project Gutenberg

However, the motivations of a hacker are typically as simple as Im an engineer because I like to design things.

From Project Gutenberg

Colonel Hacker again admonished me to go home, and keep no more meetings.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• operator
• technician