hacker

noun

hack·​er ˈha-kər 

1

: one that hacks

2

: a person who is inexperienced or unskilled at a particular activity

a tennis hacker

3

: an expert at programming and solving problems with a computer

4

: a person who illegally gains access to and sometimes tampers with information in a computer system

Synonyms of hacker

• cracker
• cyberpunk
• geek

Examples of hacker in a Sentence

My friends and I have been playing golf for years, but we're still just a bunch of hackers.

the company's security experts spent days trying to figure out how a hacker could have gotten past the firewall

Recent Examples on the Web

Anthropic says that a slower, more cautious approach is needed to slow the arms race ignited by AI in the hands of hackers. —Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2026

Now it has been hit by a ransomware attack from prolific fame-seeking hackers. —Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 29 Apr. 2026

The service has dedicated IP addresses and servers from various locations in other countries all around the world to mask your home location against hackers and scammers. —Rudie Obias, HollywoodReporter, 29 Apr. 2026

Members of the group included database hackers, organizers, target identifiers, callers and residential burglars who targeted hardware virtual currency wallets, which store cryptocurrency, prosecutors said. —Andrea Klick, Oc Register, 27 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for hacker

• acker
• backer
• blacker
• cracker
• lacquer
• packer
• slacker
• stacker
• thacker
• tracker
• attacker
• backpacker

Kids Definition

hacker

noun

hack·​er ˈhak-ər 

1

: one that hacks

2

: a person who is unskilled at a particular activity

3

: an expert at programming and solving problems with a computer

4

: a person who illegally gains access to a computer system