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

That said, one hacker can wreak no small amount of havoc, as one compromised water system might serve tens of thousands of people.

From Slate ● Aug. 19, 2026

Cyber Choices, also known as Cyber Prevent, is like a hacker rehab course.

From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026

Both OpenAI, the hacker, and the victim, Hugging Face, have portrayed the response to this incident as a collaboration.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026

Hacking It: As AI disrupts traditional career paths, these college students are skipping corporate internships for San Francisco hacker houses and incubators this summer.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026

Some hacker out there thought it would be funny.

From "Warcross" by Marie Lu

Three major UK airports have been hit by a "cyber security incident" in which criminal cyber hackers accessed the data of almost nine million people.

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026

In March, pro-Iran hackers hit Stryker, another medical-device company.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

US law enforcement on Tuesday announced the seizure of internet domains allegedly used by Chinese hackers to target government agencies and critical infrastructure.

From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026

But it’s rare for hackers to get a hold of a playable version of the game, which might have happened in the “Grand Theft Auto” incident, said Sanjay Madhav, a technology professor at USC.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026

It must belong to one of the hackers.

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

Related Words

• operator
• technician