Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Showing results for hacktivist. Search instead for hacktivists.

hacktivist

British  
/ ˈhæktɪvɪst /

noun

  1. informal a person who breaks into a computer system in order to pursue a political or social aim

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of hacktivist

C21: blend of hacker and activist

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.

The speeches at CyberUK will also press home the ongoing threat of nation state and hacktivist attacks, particularly from Russia and China.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

Cybersecurity experts believe attacks conducted by Iranian state-backed factors and affiliated hacktivist groups could continue, likely targeting critical service providers in the energy, telecommunications, military, and finance sectors across the U.S. and its allies.

From Barron's • Mar. 29, 2026

The self-proclaimed hacktivist group known as NullBulge told multiple media outlets, including CNN, that it had breached thousands of Disney’s internal messaging channels and leaked roughly 1.2 terabytes of information.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 16, 2024

Wu was a member of China’s first hacktivist group, Green Army — a group known informally as the “Whampoa Academy” after a famed Chinese military school.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 7, 2024

The firm said it identified about 1,000 entities as victims of hacktivist activities spread across Russia, Ukraine, the U.S.,

From Washington Times • Feb. 23, 2023

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "hacktivist" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com