white hat
Americannoun
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a virtuous hero, especially in a cowboy movie; good guy.
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Also called white hat hacker. Computers. a hacker who violates the security of a system with the knowledge and consent of the owner or developer in order to test the code, without malicious intent.
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of white hat
First recorded in 1960–65 white hat for def. 1, and in 1990–95 white hat for def. 2; from the white hat often worn by the virtuous hero in a cowboy movie
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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.
White hats have been a common sight at demonstrations denouncing his death, and a white hat graced Manzo’s coffin at his funeral.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 9, 2025
Ms Musvava, dressed in a bright orange winter jumper and a white hat, appeared despondent.
From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2025
Not far away, Jackie Garlock, of nearby Clear Lake, was wearing a white hat indicating her status as one of Trump’s “caucus captains.”
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 7, 2024
Mollie is telling Ernest that she sees him as a good guy, even if the movie has already violently upended the familiar dualism of the white hat vs. black.
From New York Times ● Jan. 4, 2024
A woman in a large white hat, sitting a few rows behind us, waved in our direction.
From "The Lions of Little Rock" by Kristin Levine
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
