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
With Interpol database collaboration and knowledge of dark web chatter, agentic AI can better prepare for ongoing cyber battles.
—Carlo Tortora Brayda, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Federal prosecutors have accused the men of operating 10 virtual storefronts on 17 different dark web marketplaces from September 2018 through February, the department said in a statement.
—Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2025
Boutros spent eight years as a federal prosecutor under then-U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, bringing a number of high-profile and complex prosecutions involving everything from international trade to dark web narcotics conspiracy.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025
Europol has shut down one of the largest dark web pedophile networks in the world, prompting dozens of arrests worldwide and threatening that more are to follow.
—Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 2 Apr. 2025
Instead, law enforcement authorities in the Netherlands identified him after obtaining a copy of the server for a dark web email provider.
—Alex Riggins, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2025
On his second day in office, Trump pardoned Ross Ulbricht, who was serving a life sentence for crimes related to his dark web marketplace Silk Road.
—Dan Mangan, CNBC, 28 Mar. 2025
That led to posts on a dark web hacker forum, confirmed by NBC News as at least partially authentic, that shared a database that named and identified people with Ashkenazi Jewish heritage.
—Kevin Collier, NBC news, 25 Mar. 2025
Some specialized providers also offer dark web monitoring that can provide advanced indicators that your company or key personnel are being targeted for deepfake attacks.
—Jim Richberg, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
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Carlo Tortora Brayda, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Federal prosecutors have accused the men of operating 10 virtual storefronts on 17 different dark web marketplaces from September 2018 through February, the department said in a statement.
—Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2025
Boutros spent eight years as a federal prosecutor under then-U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, bringing a number of high-profile and complex prosecutions involving everything from international trade to dark web narcotics conspiracy.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025
Europol has shut down one of the largest dark web pedophile networks in the world, prompting dozens of arrests worldwide and threatening that more are to follow.
—Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 2 Apr. 2025
Instead, law enforcement authorities in the Netherlands identified him after obtaining a copy of the server for a dark web email provider.
—Alex Riggins, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2025
On his second day in office, Trump pardoned Ross Ulbricht, who was serving a life sentence for crimes related to his dark web marketplace Silk Road.
—Dan Mangan, CNBC, 28 Mar. 2025
That led to posts on a dark web hacker forum, confirmed by NBC News as at least partially authentic, that shared a database that named and identified people with Ashkenazi Jewish heritage.
—Kevin Collier, NBC news, 25 Mar. 2025
Some specialized providers also offer dark web monitoring that can provide advanced indicators that your company or key personnel are being targeted for deepfake attacks.
—Jim Richberg, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dark web.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dark%20web. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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