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

There is Joan Crawford in a huge black hat, her face, said Horst, “is all make-up, a mask not a face.”

From The Daily Beast

In his latest book, I Wear the Black Hat, Klosterman admits that he was “hating Coldplay in order to avoid hating myself.”

From The Daily Beast

But Loyau-Kennett simply refused to take the message from the man in the black hat.

From The Daily Beast

They called it the “Take off the Black Hat” campaign and the changes came immediately, Yang claimed.

From The Daily Beast

Hastings is said to have an unofficial “uniform” of his own, which consists of jeans, a gray T-shirt, and a black hat.

From The Daily Beast

The girl was dressed in a pearl grey and pink sports coat, with a large black hat, and carried a silver chain handbag.

From Project Gutenberg

What dress she wore was black, and on her golden head was an immense black hat covered with feathers.

From Project Gutenberg

A black hat, wide of brim and carefully creased, replaced the nondescript felt affair which Bill usually wore.

From Project Gutenberg

Jimmy sat bolt upright, his black hat pendant between his knees.

From Project Gutenberg

They were driven by a tall man, with a long brown beard and a great black hat, which seemed to hide his face from us.

From Project Gutenberg