pirate

[ pahy-ruht ]

noun

1. a person who robs or commits illegal violence at sea or on the shores of the sea.

   Synonyms: plunderer, corsair, buccaneer, freebooter

2. a ship used by such persons.
3. any plunderer, predator, etc.:

   confidence men, slumlords, and other pirates.

4. a person who uses or reproduces the work or invention of another without authorization.
5. Also called pirate stream. Geology. a stream that diverts into its own flow the headwaters of another stream, river, etc.

verb (used with object)

, pi·rat·ed, pi·rat·ing.

1. to commit piracy upon; plunder; rob.
2. to take by piracy:

   to pirate gold.

3. to use or reproduce (a book, an invention, etc.) without authorization or legal right:

   to pirate hit records.

4. to take or entice away for one's own use:

   Our competitor is trying to pirate our best salesman.

verb (used without object)

, pi·rat·ed, pi·rat·ing.

1. to commit or practice piracy.

pirate

/ ˈpaɪrɪt; paɪˈrætɪkəl /

noun

1. a person who commits piracy
2. 1. a vessel used by pirates
   2. ( as modifier )

      a pirate ship

3. a person who illicitly uses or appropriates someone else's literary, artistic, or other work
4. 1. a person or group of people who broadcast illegally
   2. ( as modifier )

      a pirate radio station

verb

1. tr to use, appropriate, or reproduce (artistic work, ideas, etc) illicitly

Derived Forms

• piratical, adjective
• piˈratically, adverb

Other Words From

• pirate·like adjective
• pi·rat·i·cal [pahy-, rat, -i-k, uh, l, pi-], pi·ratic adjective
• pi·rati·cal·ly adverb
• un·pirat·ed adjective
• unpi·rati·cal adjective
• unpi·rati·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of pirate¹

1250–1300; Middle English < Latin pīrāta < Greek peirātḗs, equivalent to peirā- , variant stem of peirân to attack + -tēs agent noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of pirate¹

C15: from Latin pīrāta, from Greek peirātēs one who attacks, from peira an attempt, attack

Example Sentences

By contrast, “Gangplank Galleon,” which accompanies the game’s climactic pirate ship boss fight, begins in the frisky style of an accordion-led sea shanty.

From New York Times

Copyright is already a huge issue for African artists whose music is often pirated, sold and played on the continent without them earning anything.

From BBC

From the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro to the shoulders of pirates: parrots are synonymous with colour for people across the world.

From Science Daily

In 2017, Disney removed the bridal auction scene from the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and changed one of the women formerly being auctioned into a pirate leader.

From Los Angeles Times

In better days, the Ferris wheel, pirate ship and outdoor trampoline — advertised as the biggest in Asia — would draw thousands of children a day.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• raider