white hat

[ hwahyt hat, wahyt ]

noun

, Informal.

1. a virtuous hero, especially in a cowboy movie; good guy.
2. Also called white hat hack·er. 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.

white hat

noun

1. informal.
   1. a computer hacker who is hired by an organization to undertake nonmalicious hacking work in order to discover computer-security flaws
   2. ( as modifier ) Compare black hat

      a white-hat hacker

Other Words From

• white-hat white-hat·ted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of white hat¹

First recorded in 1960–65 white hat fordef 1, and in 1990–95 white hat fordef 2; from the white hat often worn by the virtuous hero in a cowboy movie

Example Sentences

The spry 76-year-old with bushy gray hair growing horizontally off his head like a subdued Doc Brown is the white hat — the boss — on his crew.

From Los Angeles Times

Jackie Smith of Placer County came decked in full suffragist gear — a white blazer and pants, as well as a wide-brimmed white hat.

From Los Angeles Times

Wearing a gray Mater Dei T-shirt and white hat, Raul Lara is reminded constantly how strange he looks in Monarchs football gear by his acquaintances from his Long Beach Poly coaching days.

From Los Angeles Times

The lawmaker’s staff did not find other states that have hired independent hackers, although Missouri has hired a company that employs “white hat hackers” to provide that service.

From Seattle Times

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

Related Words

• affable
• amiable
• attractive
• charming
• easygoing
• gregarious
• likable
• pleasant