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
Tech companies are used to defending their systems against hackers.
—
The Week Us, TheWeek, 24 Mar. 2026
So far, the US has managed to avoid a large-scale breach of the grid by hackers, thanks to proactive efforts by utilities and government agencies to thwart intrusions.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Two high-level Biden administration officials who played key roles in evaluating a Microsoft security product that was breached by Chinese hackers now enjoy senior positions at the technology corporation, according to public social media profiles.
—Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 23 Mar. 2026
But data collected to consolidate control creates a ripe target for hackers, said researcher Michael Caster, who investigated China’s sales of surveillance technology to Iran.
—Dake Kang, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hacker
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The Week Us, TheWeek, 24 Mar. 2026
So far, the US has managed to avoid a large-scale breach of the grid by hackers, thanks to proactive efforts by utilities and government agencies to thwart intrusions.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Two high-level Biden administration officials who played key roles in evaluating a Microsoft security product that was breached by Chinese hackers now enjoy senior positions at the technology corporation, according to public social media profiles.
—Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 23 Mar. 2026
But data collected to consolidate control creates a ripe target for hackers, said researcher Michael Caster, who investigated China’s sales of surveillance technology to Iran.
—Dake Kang, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hacker
Cite this Entry
“Hacker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hacker. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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