hacker

noun

hack·​er ˈha-kər How to pronounce hacker (audio)
1
: one that hacks
2
: a person who is inexperienced or unskilled at a particular activity
a tennis hacker
3
: an expert at programming and solving problems with a computer
4
: a person who illegally gains access to and sometimes tampers with information in a computer system

Examples of hacker in a Sentence

My friends and I have been playing golf for years, but we're still just a bunch of hackers. the company's security experts spent days trying to figure out how a hacker could have gotten past the firewall
Recent Examples on the Web As a result of the weakness, millions of users — including federal employees — were left exposed to hackers. ProPublica, 18 June 2024 That said, routers have become a favorite haven for hackers, who often use them to hide the origins of their attacks. Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 17 June 2024 Security risks: DeFi platforms are targets for hackers. Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 12 June 2024 The pandemic also presented an opening to hackers, who thought ransoms were more likely to be paid while many health care organizations increased use of online systems during the pandemic, according to the World Health Organization. Sarah Volpenhein, Journal Sentinel, 11 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for hacker 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hacker.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hacker was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near hacker

Cite this Entry

“Hacker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hacker. Accessed 30 Jun. 2024.

Kids Definition

hacker

noun
hack·​er ˈhak-ər How to pronounce hacker (audio)
1
: one that hacks
2
: a person who is unskilled at a particular activity
3
: an expert at programming and solving problems with a computer
4
: a person who illegally gains access to a computer system

More from Merriam-Webster on hacker

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!