Definition of pirate
: one who commits or practices piracy
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Examples of pirate in a Sentence
the famous pirate Jean Lafitte
A software pirate made bootleg copies of the computer program.
Recent Examples of pirate from the Web
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The scientists, armed with foot-long knives that look like miniature pirate swords, slice through blubber, peeling the flesh off in sheets.
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Dee Wiedmaier of Kansas City barely winced as California artist Blaise Moreno inked a female pirate on her left thigh.
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Forbes has listed Bellamy as the highest-earning pirate ever, plundering about $120 million worth of treasure.
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Fight as a pirate or a wingman in epic space battles with friends and enemies.
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Johnson’s Sam isn’t just a guy in a costume playing pirate.
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Plan a summer of festivals: Talk like a pirate, see a giant rubber duck, sip wine while eating walleye or watch the biggest World War II reenactment in the United States.
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From left, WVUE-Fox 8’s John Snell as a pirate, Nancy Parker as Chef Leah Chase and Meg Gatto in 1920s regalia get an early start on Mardi Gras morning.
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In his songs, Buffett imagined himself as a pirate, always plundering toward treasure.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pirate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of pirate
Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin pirata, from Greek peiratēs, from peiran to attempt — more at fear
NEW! Time Traveler
First Known Use: 14th century
in the meaning defined above
See Words from the same yearDefinition of pirate
pirated;
pirating
1
: to commit piracy on
2
: to take or appropriate by piracy: such as
a
: to reproduce without authorization especially in infringement of copyright
b
: to lure away from another employer by offers of betterment
: to commit or practice piracy
Examples of pirate in a Sentence
He was accused of pirating their invention.
using pirated software that was subject to copyright
Recent Examples of pirate from the Web
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The lawsuit against Dragon Media says the box and the software provided by Dragon Media greatly simplify the process of viewing pirated video.
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The photos are childhood snapshots of Ms. Perry and her twin brother, Sandy, who was one of the N.C.A.A. basketball players whose likenesses were pirated, just a few years ago, by the video game company E.A. Sports.
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Set in the year 2144, Autonomous follows Jack, a rogue scientist who pirates life-saving drugs for people who can’t afford them.
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About 70% of the software in use in China, for example, is pirated.
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Truex could have crashed Busch — practically everyone else crashed somebody — and pirated the win, but Truex played nice and finished second.
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The seven episodes in Game of Thrones season 7 have been pirated—or illegally downloaded or streamed—more than 1.029 billion times, digital market tracker Muso reported this week.
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The last member to be banished from the group was actor Carmine Caridi, who was booted in 2004 for sharing promotional copies of films that were later pirated.
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These videos cost money to make, but were pirated and posted online without paying the people who made them.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pirate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of pirate
1577
pirate Synonyms
Synonyms
appropriate, arrogate, commandeer, convert, expropriate, preempt, press, seize, take over, usurp;
Related Words
annex, attach, claim, confiscate, impound, repossess, sequester;
assume, collar, grab, grasp, snatch, steal, wrench, wrest;
PIRATE Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of pirate for English Language Learners
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: someone who attacks and steals from a ship at sea
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: someone who illegally copies a product or invention without permission
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: a person or organization that illegally makes television or radio broadcasts
pirate
Definition of pirate for English Language Learners
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: to illegally copy (something) without permission
PIRATE Defined for Kids
Definition of pirate for Students
: a robber of ships at sea : a person who commits piracy
Law Dictionary
legal Definition of pirate
pirated;
pirating
: to take or appropriate by piracy;
especially
: to copy, distribute, or use without authorization especially in infringement of copyright
- the pirated software
- pirating cable signals
: to commit piracy — compare bootleg
Learn More about pirate
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for pirate Spanish Central: Translation of pirate Nglish: Translation of pirate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of pirate for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pirate
Seen and Heard
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