black hat

[ blak hat ]

noun

, Informal.

1. a villain, as in a cowboy movie; bad guy.
2. Also called black hat hacker. Computers. a hacker who violates the security of a system without the knowledge or consent of the owner or developer, as for personal profit or for the gratification of causing damage.

black hat

noun

1. informal.
   1. a computer hacker who carries out illegal malicious hacking work
   2. ( as modifier ) Compare white hat

      black-hat hackers

Other Words From

• black-hat black-hat·ted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of black hat¹

First recorded in 1955–60 black hat fordef 1, and in 1990–95 black hat fordef 2; from the black hat worn by the villain in a cowboy movie

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. wear / put on a black hat, Informal, to behave villainously.

Example Sentences

Elphaba arrives alone, outfitted in the pointy black hat that Glinda has tricked her into wearing, and gets teased by all her classmates as she has been since arriving at Shiz University.

From Los Angeles Times

What did you bring to the scene where Glinda humiliates Elphaba, giving her that “hideodeous” black hat that she wears to the ball?

From Los Angeles Times

One shopper, though, decided to inject more of a somber spark into Marks' demise, with 60-year-old Margherita Stevens donning a black hat and veil.

From BBC

They were meant to draw attention to Palo Alto Networks' sponsorship of a "CyberRisk Collaborative Happy Hour" at the Black Hat conference.

From BBC

He no longer wears a black hat, either.

From Seattle Times