piracy

noun

pi·​ra·​cy ˈpī-rə-sē 

plural piracies

1

: an act of robbery on the high seas

also : an act resembling such robbery

2

: robbery on the high seas

3

a

: the unauthorized use of another's production, invention, or conception especially in infringement of a copyright

b

: the illicit accessing of broadcast signals

Synonyms of piracy

• pirating
• raiding
• robbery

Examples of piracy in a Sentence

piracy on the high seas

many countries have harsh penalties for piracy now

Recent Examples on the Web

In other words, the industry has long treated sound as important enough to sabotage strategically when combatting piracy. — Damion Taylor, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Warships may board vessels suspected of piracy, slave trading, statelessness or false flagging. — John Calabrese, The Conversation, 6 July 2026

In May 2025, a report from Enders Analysis, a media and telecommunications research firm, said that Fire Sticks enabled billions of dollars’ worth of streaming piracy. — Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 30 June 2026

After that, the Memorandum of Understanding invites Iran to commit piracy by charging ships to transit the strait. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 19 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1537, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing piracy

• air piracy
• anti-piracy

Kids Definition

piracy

noun

pi·​ra·​cy ˈpī-rə-sē 

plural piracies

1

: robbery on the high seas

2

: the use of another's production or invention without permission

Legal Definition

piracy

noun

pi·​ra·​cy ˈpī-rə-sē 

plural piracies

1

: an act of robbery especially on the high seas

specifically : an illegal act of violence, detention, or plunder committed for private ends by crew or passengers of a private ship or aircraft against another ship or aircraft on the high seas or in a place outside the jurisdiction of any state see also air piracy

2

a

: the unauthorized copying, distribution, or use of another's production (as a film) especially in infringement of a copyright

software piracy

b

: the unauthorized use, interception, or receipt of encoded communications (as satellite cable programming) especially to avoid paying fees for use

the statute's purpose is to proscribe the piracy of programming signals

—United States v. Harrell, 983 F.2d 36 (1993)

3

: the crime of committing piracy