pirate

1 of 2

noun

pi·​rate ˈpī-rət 

: one who commits or practices piracy

piratical

pə-ˈra-ti-kəl 

pī-

adjective

piratically

pə-ˈra-ti-k(ə-)lē 

pī-

adverb

pirate

2 of 2

verb

pirated; pirating

transitive verb

1

: to commit piracy on

2

: to take or appropriate by piracy: such as

a

: to reproduce without authorization especially in infringement of copyright

b

: to lure away from another employer by offers of betterment

intransitive verb

: to commit or practice piracy

Synonyms

Noun

• buccaneer
• corsair
• freebooter
• rover

Verb

• appropriate
• arrogate
• commandeer
• convert
• expropriate
• preempt
• press
• seize
• take over
• usurp

Examples of pirate in a Sentence

Noun

the famous pirate Jean Lafitte

A software pirate made bootleg copies of the computer program.

Verb

He was accused of pirating their invention.

using pirated software that was subject to copyright

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This small doohickey works with Amazon Key In-Garage Delivery, an exclusive Prime member benefit that protects your packages from porch pirates and increment weather. —Marc Saltzman, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024

Zoom out: Also beware of virtual porch pirates, as one in five delivery package scam attempts starts via text message or messaging apps like WhatsApp or iMessage. —Carrie Shepherd, Axios, 12 Dec. 2024

Verb

The average large studio spends over $100 million annually trying to protect its content, yet for $29 and a 5-minute YouTube video, anyone can rip and pirate virtually any platform. —Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 14 Dec. 2024

The film has already been widely pirated in Israel. —Yasmeen Serhan, TIME, 10 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin pirata, from Greek peiratēs, from peiran to attempt — more at fear

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1577, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

pirate

1 of 2 noun

pi·​rate ˈpī-rət 

: a person who commits piracy

piratical

pə-ˈrat-i-kəl 

pī-

adjective

piratically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

pirate

2 of 2 verb

pirated; pirating

: to take by piracy

pirate an invention

Legal Definition

pirate

1 of 2 noun

pi·​rate ˈpī-rət 

: a person who commits piracy

pirate

2 of 2 verb

pirated; pirating

transitive verb

: to take or appropriate by piracy

especially : to copy, distribute, or use without authorization especially in infringement of copyright

the pirated software

pirating cable signals

intransitive verb

: to commit piracy compare bootleg