pirate

1 of 3

noun

pi·​rate ˈpī-rət 

: one who commits or practices piracy

piratical

pə-ˈra-ti-kəl 

pī-

adjective

piratically

pə-ˈra-ti-k(ə-)lē 

pī-

adverb

pirate

2 of 3

verb

pirated; pirating

transitive verb

1

: to commit piracy on

2

: to take or appropriate by piracy: such as

a

: to reproduce without authorization especially in infringement of copyright

b

: to lure away from another employer by offers of betterment

intransitive verb

: to commit or practice piracy

piratical

3 of 3

adjective

pi·​rat·​i·​cal (ˈ)pī¦rat|ə̇kəl 

pə̇ˈr-, 

-at|, 

|ēk-

variants or less commonly piratic

|ik, 

|ēk

1

: of, produced by, or being a pirate or piracy

piratical strongholds

piratical editions

piratical attackers

piratical enterprises

2

: befitting or resembling a pirate

a fierce piratical expression

piratically

|ə̇k(ə)lē 

|ēk-, 

-li

adverb

Synonyms of pirate

Noun

• buccaneer
• privateer
• freebooter
• corsair
• raider

Verb

• seize
• steal
• confiscate
• grab
• convert
• usurp

Examples of pirate in a Sentence

Noun

the famous pirate Jean Lafitte

A software pirate made bootleg copies of the computer program.

Verb

He was accused of pirating their invention.

using pirated software that was subject to copyright

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

From pirate treasure hunts that send kids racing around the resort with maps and clues to a sandcastle concierge stocked with shovels, pails, and tools for building elaborate beach creations, the property makes family vacations feel surprisingly stress-free. —Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 12 June 2026

Tweens and teens can also try knot-tying, help raise the sails, play pirate games, and visit the bridge. —Ashlea Halpern, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 June 2026

Verb

Cox won’t help defendants beat allegations of direct copyright infringement, those claims in which the company itself is accused of pirating. —ArsTechnica, 11 May 2026

The version of the film that was ultimately pirated across the internet was a high quality file, potentially indicating a breach of systems maintained by those that worked on the movie. —Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin pirata, from Greek peiratēs, from peiran to attempt — more at fear

Adjective

piratical from Middle French piratique (from Latin piraticus) or Latin piraticus (from Greek peiratikos, from peiratēs pirate + -ikos -ic) + English -al; piratic from French piratique or Latin piraticus

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1575, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

pirate

1 of 2 noun

pi·​rate ˈpī-rət 

: a person who commits piracy

piratical

pə-ˈrat-i-kəl 

pī-

adjective

piratically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

pirate

2 of 2 verb

pirated; pirating

: to take by piracy

pirate an invention

Legal Definition

pirate

1 of 2 noun

pi·​rate ˈpī-rət 

: a person who commits piracy

pirate

2 of 2 verb

pirated; pirating

transitive verb

: to take or appropriate by piracy

especially : to copy, distribute, or use without authorization especially in infringement of copyright

the pirated software

pirating cable signals

intransitive verb

: to commit piracy compare bootleg