plural pirates
1
: someone who attacks and steals from a ship at sea
the famous pirate Jean Lafitte
—often used before another nouna pirate ship/costume/captain/movie
2
a
: someone who illegally copies a product or invention without permission
A software pirate made bootleg copies of the computer program.
—often used before another nounpirate videotapes/CDs/software
pirate translations
b
: a person or organization that illegally makes television or radio broadcasts
—usually used before another noun
pirate radio
pirates; pirated; pirating
: to illegally copy (something) without permission
He was accused of pirating their invention.
Cite this Entry
“Pirate.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/pirate. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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