piracy

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noun pi·ra·cy \ ˈpī-rə-sē \

Definition of piracy

plural piracies

1 :an act of robbery on the high seas; also :an act resembling such robbery

2 :robbery on the high seas

3 a :the unauthorized use of another's production, invention, or conception especially in infringement of a copyright

b :the illicit accessing of broadcast signals

See piracy defined for English-language learners

See piracy defined for kids

Examples of piracy in a Sentence

piracy on the high seas
many countries have harsh penalties for piracy now

Recent Examples of piracy from the Web

But the Associated Press reports that Chinese piracy seems to be more of a reason to institute tariffs the administration already wants to carry out.

— dan sweeney, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Where's the real fake news?," 2 Aug. 2017
The Supreme Court has traditionally affirmed expansive civil forfeiture rules by reference to colonial practices rooted in admiralty, piracy, and customs law.

— david french, National Review, "America’s Asset-Forfeiture Scam Is Law Enforcement’s Disgrace," 20 July 2017
His first deployment to the Mediterranean was a NATO deployment for an anti-piracy operation.

— joe marusak, charlotteobserver, "Navy chaplain wasn’t sure he’d live. Now he’s competing in the Warrior Games.," 28 June 2017
The protracted seizure has worried the region about the extent the Islamic State's agenda may have gained traction in the southern Philippines, which is more used to banditry, piracy, and separatism than radical Islam.

— kanupriya kapoor, The Christian Science Monitor, "Five weeks after ISIS captured town, residents forced to serve, marry, and fight for militants," 27 June 2017
Most of her contemporaries would have been appalled, but seeing that piracy was the ultimate compliment paid to success, Chanel loved it.

— sam kashner, HWD, "Coco Chanel’s Little-Known Flirtation with Golden-Age Hollywood," 19 June 2017
In the old days, studios would sell a movie for $20,000 to $50,000, because piracy was rampant.

— patrick brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, "How Hollywood Is Squeezing More From China Film Deals," 16 June 2017
Anti-piracy and convoy protection missions were right up their alley.

— kyle mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "The U.S. Navy Is Considering Un-Retiring a Bunch of Old Frigates," 14 June 2017
Around the new millennium, when Metallica was trying to sink digital music piracy, college-aged acoustic rock trio Dispatch was sailing it across the country.

— dylan owens, The Know, "“The biggest band nobody’s heard of”: Dispatch ready to move past “The General” and back to Red Rocks headliner," 14 June 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of piracy

Medieval Latin piratia, from Late Greek peirateia, from Greek peiratēs pirate

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1537

See Words from the same year

piracy Synonyms

Synonyms

pirating

Related Words

depredation, despoilment, despoliation, looting, marauding, pillaging, plunder, plundering, raiding, robbery, sacking; privateering

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

PIRACY Defined for English Language Learners

piracy

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noun

Definition of piracy for English Language Learners

: the act of attacking and stealing from a ship at sea
: the act of illegally copying someone's product or invention without permission
: the act of illegally making television or radio broadcasts

PIRACY Defined for Kids

piracy

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noun pi·ra·cy \ ˈpī-rə-sē \

Definition of piracy for Students

plural piracies

1 :robbery of a ship at sea

2 :the use of another's work or invention without permission

Law Dictionary

piracy

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noun pi·ra·cy \ ˈpī-rə-sē \

legal Definition of piracy

plural piracies

1 :an act of robbery especially on the high seas; specifically :an illegal act of violence, detention, or plunder committed for private ends by crew or passengers of a private ship or aircraft against another ship or aircraft on the high seas or in a place outside the jurisdiction of any state — see also air piracy

2 a :the unauthorized copying, distribution, or use of another's production (as a film) especially in infringement of a copyright