pirate

1 of 2

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 2

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

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

Sources tell Deadline that Sony Pictures is in negotiations to land the project, with Scott directing and Jackman on board to play the pirate Long John Silver. — Justin Kroll, Deadline, 22 July 2026

According to sources who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the incident publicly, the ship was hijacked by seven armed Somali pirates. — Omar Faruk, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026

Verb

Any livestream could be pirated. — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 25 June 2026

Then came Drain Gang, Lil Uzi Vert, and a cousin who showed him how to pirate software. — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 15 June 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

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