hacker

noun

hack·​er ˈha-kər How to pronounce hacker (audio)
1
: one that hacks
2
: a person who is inexperienced or unskilled at a particular activity
a tennis hacker
3
: an expert at programming and solving problems with a computer
4
: a person who illegally gains access to and sometimes tampers with information in a computer system

Examples of hacker in a Sentence

My friends and I have been playing golf for years, but we're still just a bunch of hackers. the company's security experts spent days trying to figure out how a hacker could have gotten past the firewall
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
While there are organizations working against common sense board reform on digital and cybersecurity governance, the hackers and boardroom leaders are winning and the status quo is losing — expensively. Bob Zukis, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025 The activist hacker group Anonymous aided Iranians in finding ways to bypass the restrictions nearly three years ago. Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025 The foundry's portfolio companies will now have access to Joyce's more than three decades of experience fighting foreign government hackers. Sam Sabin, Axios, 7 Jan. 2025 Late last month the U.S. Treasury reported that an unspecified number of computers had been compromised by Chinese hackers following a breach at contractor BeyondTrust, which provides cybersecurity services. Raphael Satter, USA TODAY, 7 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for hacker 

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hacker was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near hacker

Cite this Entry

“Hacker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hacker. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

hacker

noun
hack·​er ˈhak-ər How to pronounce hacker (audio)
1
: one that hacks
2
: a person who is unskilled at a particular activity
3
: an expert at programming and solving problems with a computer
4
: a person who illegally gains access to a computer system

More from Merriam-Webster on hacker

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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