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.

---

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

---

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

Duong and the other researchers kept its existence a closely guarded secret while they worked on fixes, for fear that an AI-aided hacker might find and exploit it before they were done.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

And with the help of a former hacker turned cybersecurity expert, she tracks the man behind the mask to his home in West Africa and pays him a visit.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026

For some, Rui Pinto is a criminal hacker who stole information with sinister intentions.

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026

Since the security breach, a hacker calling themselves “I Am Not A Villain” has released materials that Revolut handed over by mistake.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026

“When I first hired you, all I wanted to do was stop a hacker whom I knew was trying to stop me. I didn’t know that...”

From "Warcross" by Marie Lu

Governments and some of the world's biggest companies, including Amazon, were scrambling to protect their systems on Thursday before hackers could exploit them.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

Artificial intelligence has found critical security flaws in a major programming language called PHP, with many websites taken offline Thursday as organisations worldwide scramble to fend off would-be hackers.

From Barron's ● Oct. 22, 2026

Governments and cyber-security agencies around the world are scrambling to contain a massive flaw in internet technology, after AI discovered issues that could be exploited by hackers.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

Using these tools, hackers are already claiming to have discovered ways of exploiting the PHP bugs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026

It must belong to one of the hackers.

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

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• operator
• technician

---