hacker

noun

hack·​er ˈha-kər 

1

: one that hacks

2

: a person who is inexperienced or unskilled at a particular activity

a tennis hacker

3

: an expert at programming and solving problems with a computer

4

: a person who illegally gains access to and sometimes tampers with information in a computer system

Synonyms of hacker

• cracker
• cyberpunk
• geek

Examples of hacker in a Sentence

My friends and I have been playing golf for years, but we're still just a bunch of hackers.

the company's security experts spent days trying to figure out how a hacker could have gotten past the firewall

Recent Examples on the Web

And because modern cars are connected to the internet, this software acts as a core firewall to block hackers from accessing the steering or braking controls. — New Atlas, 24 June 2026

Would-be hackers would need physical access to the target device to get the exploit to work. — Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 21 June 2026

Brazilian authorities said that the National Civil Defense’s warning platform was taken offline after being targeted by a likely hacker attack, and the government is working to restore the tool once all security conditions are reestablished. — Mariana Catacci, CNN Money, 20 June 2026

If your phone, tablet or computer has malware, changing passwords from that device may hand the new passwords right back to the hacker. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for hacker

• acker
• backer
• blacker
• cracker
• lacquer
• packer
• slacker
• stacker
• thacker
• tracker
• attacker
• backpacker

Kids Definition

hacker

noun

hack·​er ˈhak-ər 

1

: one that hacks

2

: a person who is unskilled at a particular activity

3

: an expert at programming and solving problems with a computer

4

: a person who illegally gains access to a computer system