hacker

[ hak-er ]

noun

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: Compare black hat ( def 2 ), gray hat, white hat ( def 2 ).

      A hacker got into my computer remotely and wiped my hard drive!

      The company has hired hackers to test system security.

hacker

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of hacker¹

First recorded in 1200–50 hacker fordef 1; Middle English (as surname); hack ¹, -er ¹; 1965–70 hacker fordef 2

Example Sentences

A hacker has been sentenced to five years in a US prison for laundering the proceeds of one of the biggest ever cryptocurrency thefts.

From BBC

Instead, battles were fought with hackers, data breaches and server shutdowns.

From Salon

Last year, the company said hackers had managed to gain access to personal information of millions of its users.

From BBC

Earlier in October, Russian hackers were purportedly behind a denial-of-service attack against Raffensberger's government website, which provides instructions for people on how to vote in Georgia.

From Salon

In January, the issue was discussed in Congress, with FBI Director Christopher Wray warning that Chinese hackers were preparing to "wreak havoc and cause real-world harm" to the US.

From BBC

Related Words

• operator
• technician