hacker

noun

hack·​er ˈha-kər How to pronounce hacker (audio)
Synonyms of hackernext
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

Synonyms of hacker

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The hackers allegedly built infrastructure that could scan for vulnerable devices, compromise them and then use those devices as cover. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2026 This violates right-to-delete laws, and worse, hackers can reverse-engineer those leftover AI files to steal sensitive health data. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026 Just this week, additional footage has been leaked, Rockstar Games fired off subpoenas and legal threats to try to find the hacker, and the hacking group itself even started asking for money just to talk about it. — Alan Henry, PC Magazine, 28 Aug. 2026 The hackers recruited the agent for hundreds of attacks by telling it the exercises were part of a simulation, Reuters reported, making their work up to 50% faster. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hacker

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

Rhymes for hacker

See All Rhymes for hacker

Browse Nearby Words

Hackensack
hacker
hackery
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Cite this Entry

“Hacker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hacker. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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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

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hacker

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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