pirate

1 of 2

noun

pi·​rate ˈpī-rət 

: one who commits or practices piracy

piratical

pə-ˈra-ti-kəl 

pī-

adjective

piratically

pə-ˈra-ti-k(ə-)lē 

pī-

adverb

piratical

2 of 2

adjective

pi·​rat·​i·​cal (ˈ)pī¦rat|ə̇kəl 

pə̇ˈr-, 

-at|, 

|ēk-

variants or less commonly piratic

|ik, 

|ēk

1

: of, produced by, or being a pirate or piracy

piratical strongholds

piratical editions

piratical attackers

piratical enterprises

2

: befitting or resembling a pirate

a fierce piratical expression

piratically

|ə̇k(ə)lē 

|ēk-, 

-li

adverb

Synonyms of pirate

Noun

• buccaneer
• privateer
• freebooter
• corsair
• raider

Examples of pirate in a Sentence

Noun

the famous pirate Jean Lafitte

A software pirate made bootleg copies of the computer program.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

For a special treat, book a pirate tuck-in at bedtime. —Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 9 June 2026

Sources tell Deadline that Ridley Scott is on board to direct a movie adaptation of the classic Robert Louis Stevenson novel Treasure Island, with Hugh Jackman attached to play iconic pirate Long John Silver. —Justin Kroll, Deadline, 8 June 2026

The business will start with six rooms featuring themes like a haunted house, murder mansion, pirate’s cruise and jungle explorer. —Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2026

No child, or reader of Robert Louis Stevenson, can deny the allure of pirates, but the marauders are rarely the good guys in the story. —David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin pirata, from Greek peiratēs, from peiran to attempt — more at fear

Adjective

piratical from Middle French piratique (from Latin piraticus) or Latin piraticus (from Greek peiratikos, from peiratēs pirate + -ikos -ic) + English -al; piratic from French piratique or Latin piraticus

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

pirate

1 of 2 noun

pi·​rate ˈpī-rət 

: a person who commits piracy

piratical

pə-ˈrat-i-kəl 

pī-

adjective

piratically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

pirate

2 of 2 verb

pirated; pirating

: to take by piracy

pirate an invention

Legal Definition

pirate

1 of 2 noun

pi·​rate ˈpī-rət 

: a person who commits piracy

pirate

2 of 2 verb

pirated; pirating

transitive verb

: 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

intransitive verb

: to commit piracy compare bootleg