Main Entry:

pi·ra·cy

Pronunciation:

\ˈpī-rə-sē\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural pi·ra·cies

Etymology:

Medieval Latin piratia, from Late Greek peirateia, from Greek peiratēs pirate

Date:

1537

1: an act of robbery on the high seas ; also : an act resembling such robbery2: robbery on the high seas3 a: the unauthorized use of another's production, invention, or conception especially in infringement of a copyright b: the illicit accessing of broadcast signals