dark web
noun
variants
or less commonly Dark Web
: the set of web pages on the World Wide Web that cannot be indexed by search engines, are not viewable in a standard Web browser, require specific means (such as specialized software or network configuration) in order to access, and use encryption to provide anonymity and privacy for users
The dark web is only accessible by means of special software, allowing users and website operators to remain anonymous. Once used by political dissidents, the dark web has become the Internet's black market, where visitors can buy anything from guns to drugs and fake IDs or trade child pornography.—
Guillermo Contreras
compare deep web
Guillermo ContrerasExamples of dark web in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Comprehensive protective intelligence including digital risk and threat monitoring to scan for and detect threats on social media and deep and dark web venues, as well as continual assessment of the threat landscape and the executive’s evolving profile.
—Control Risks, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
Implement real-time credential leak monitoring and dark web scanning: Do not wait for a breach notification.
—Emil Sayegh, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
Loser of the Week The longest-standing dark web drug market, Archetyp Market, is no more.
—Thomas Brewster, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Hackers are peddling the data of millions of AT&T users on a Russian dark web forum.
—Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 8 June 2025
Security teams struggle to even gain access to dark web forums, let alone hold any sway over the cybercriminals there.
—Can Yildizli, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
One criminal marketplace, however, has remained as dead as a dodo for the last nine years, with no activity of any sort observed by dark web threat intelligence analysts.
—Davey Winder, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
The device allegedly contained a dark web application.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 30 May 2025
It’s been a bumper seven days for law enforcement working on cyber and dark web investigations, who have accomplished a slew of takedowns, arrests and seizures across the world.
—Thomas Brewster, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
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.
Control Risks, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
Implement real-time credential leak monitoring and dark web scanning: Do not wait for a breach notification.
—Emil Sayegh, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
Loser of the Week The longest-standing dark web drug market, Archetyp Market, is no more.
—Thomas Brewster, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Hackers are peddling the data of millions of AT&T users on a Russian dark web forum.
—Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 8 June 2025
Security teams struggle to even gain access to dark web forums, let alone hold any sway over the cybercriminals there.
—Can Yildizli, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
One criminal marketplace, however, has remained as dead as a dodo for the last nine years, with no activity of any sort observed by dark web threat intelligence analysts.
—Davey Winder, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
The device allegedly contained a dark web application.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 30 May 2025
It’s been a bumper seven days for law enforcement working on cyber and dark web investigations, who have accomplished a slew of takedowns, arrests and seizures across the world.
—Thomas Brewster, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dark web.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dark%20web. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share