piracy

noun pi·ra·cy \ ˈpī-rə-sē \

|Updated on: 12 Aug 2018

Examples: piracy in a Sentence

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 like rivals Alibaba Group, Baidu, and Netease, Tencent has to contend with rampant piracy that’s eroding the industry’s profits.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Emissions issues plague Daimler truck engines," 9 July 2018
But like perennial rivals Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., Baidu Inc. and Netease Inc., Tencent has to contend with the rampant piracy that’s eroding the industry’s profits.

— carol zhong and bob van voris, latimes.com, "Tencent streaming spinoff to list shares in U.S. amid music industry comeback," 8 July 2018
And partly because the peer-to-peer business models were piracy-driven.

— steven johnson, New York Times, "Beyond the Bitcoin Bubble," 16 Jan. 2018
Small-scale piracy has long been a fact of life along the largely undeveloped coasts of Suriname and Guyana, which lie on the northeastern shoulder of South America.

— Washington Post, "Pirate attack off Suriname leaves 16 missing and feared dead," 30 Apr. 2018
Although piracy in the Horn of Africa region has tapered off, the Sulu/Celebes sea area has become a new hotbed of organized crime at sea.

— kyle mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "Merchant Ship Goes Medieval, Throws Boiling Oil To Fight Off Pirates," 20 Feb. 2018
Having no crew or guard to watch for and evade pirates would make piracy easier.

— michael carroll, Newsweek, "Are Unmanned Vessels the Future for the Ocean?," 3 July 2014
The move would let American investors bet on the Chinese market for music-streaming services, which have brought new life to a business that’s been plagued by piracy.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Emissions issues plague Daimler truck engines," 9 July 2018
The move will let American investors bet on the Chinese market for music-streaming services, which have brought new life to a business that’s been plagued by piracy.

— carol zhong and bob van voris, latimes.com, "Tencent streaming spinoff to list shares in U.S. amid music industry comeback," 8 July 2018

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

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

piracy Synonyms

Synonyms

pirating;

privateering;

Other Legal Terms

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

PIRACY Defined for English Language Learners

piracy

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

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

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