hacker

noun

hack·​er ˈha-kər How to pronounce hacker (audio)
Synonyms of hackernext
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

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
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.
Concerns arose about what would happen to the infrastructure of the internet if hackers, or other people with malicious intent, use the model. Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 13 Apr. 2026 Investigators say the tool went a step further by capturing session data, allowing hackers to bypass multi-factor authentication and stay logged in even after passwords were changed. Cbs News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026 The email suggests the hackers have already exploited customer information. Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 13 Apr. 2026 The cutting-edge artificial intelligence business announced last week that its next-generation model, Mythos, has discovered zero-day vulnerabilities — previously unknown software bugs that can be used by hackers to compromise systems — in all major internet browsers and operating systems. Editorial Board, Washington Post, 12 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hacker

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hacker was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hacker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hacker. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

hacker

noun
hack·​er ˈhak-ər How to pronounce hacker (audio)
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

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