phreaker

noun

Save Word

phreak·er | \ ˈfrē-kər

Definition of phreaker

: one who gains illegal access to the telephone system

Other Words from phreaker Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about phreaker

Keep scrolling for more

Did You Know?

Phreakers are people who specialize in attacks on the telephone system. The word, which became popular in the mid-1980s, is probably a combination of the words phone and freak. (Phreakers are also known as "phreaks" or "phone phreaks.") In the early days, phreakers whistled or used an instrument to mimic the tones the phone system then used to route calls and identify payment, especially as a way to avoid paying for an expensive call. Modern phreaking involves breaking into and manipulating the phone company's computer system, making it a specialized kind of hacking.

Examples of phreaker in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In fact, the friends’ first business venture together was marketing blue boxes to aspiring phreakers. — Laura Yan, Popular Mechanics, "An Early Hacker Used a Cereal Box Whistle to Take Over Phone Lines," 22 Oct. 2019 In fact, the friends’ first business venture together was marketing blue boxes to aspiring phreakers. — Laura Yan, Popular Mechanics, "An Early Hacker Used a Cereal Box Whistle to Take Over Phone Lines," 22 Oct. 2019 In fact, the friends’ first business venture together was marketing blue boxes to aspiring phreakers. — Laura Yan, Popular Mechanics, "An Early Hacker Used a Cereal Box Whistle to Take Over Phone Lines," 22 Oct. 2019 In fact, the friends’ first business venture together was marketing blue boxes to aspiring phreakers. — Laura Yan, Popular Mechanics, "An Early Hacker Used a Cereal Box Whistle to Take Over Phone Lines," 22 Oct. 2019 In fact, the friends’ first business venture together was marketing blue boxes to aspiring phreakers. — Laura Yan, Popular Mechanics, "An Early Hacker Used a Cereal Box Whistle to Take Over Phone Lines," 22 Oct. 2019 In fact, the friends’ first business venture together was marketing blue boxes to aspiring phreakers. — Laura Yan, Popular Mechanics, "An Early Hacker Used a Cereal Box Whistle to Take Over Phone Lines," 22 Oct. 2019 In fact, the friends’ first business venture together was marketing blue boxes to aspiring phreakers. — Laura Yan, Popular Mechanics, "An Early Hacker Used a Cereal Box Whistle to Take Over Phone Lines," 22 Oct. 2019 In fact, the friends’ first business venture together was marketing blue boxes to aspiring phreakers. — Laura Yan, Popular Mechanics, "An Early Hacker Used a Cereal Box Whistle to Take Over Phone Lines," 22 Oct. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'phreaker.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.