Definition of hackers

hacker

noun

while "hacker" originally had positive connotations, it has since come to refer to individuals who sometimes use computers with malicious intent. For example, a person who breaks into computers that they do not have official access to.

Citation from "Reeling in the hackers", The Irish Times, Karlin Lillington, February 19 2010 censored in hope of resolving Google's penalty against this site.

Citation from Communications of the ACM, Volume 27 (1984) censored in hope of resolving Google's penalty against this site.

Last edited on Nov 15 2011. Submitted by Charles B. from Westminster, CO, USA on Jun 16 1999.
an expert or enthusiast of any kind, provided it involves hands-on work.
She calls herself a "culinary hacker."
- See more words with the same meaning: an expert, a fan.
Last edited on Nov 15 2011. Submitted by Walter Rader (Editor) from Sacramento, CA, USA on Aug 14 2009.
a person who is very good at programming.

Citation from Communications of the ACM, Volume 27 (1984) censored in hope of resolving Google's penalty against this site.

Last edited on Nov 04 2011. Submitted by WalterGR (via TheJargonFile) on Aug 14 2009.
a person who enjoys exploring computers, making them work better than ever before, and making them solve problems that they've never solved before.
- See more words with the same meaning: computer slang.
Last edited on Nov 15 2011. Submitted by WalterGR (via TheJargonFile) on Aug 14 2009.
a person who enjoys creatively overcoming or circumventing limitations.
He's a pretty good padlock hacker.

Last edited on Nov 15 2011. Submitted by WalterGR (via TheJargonFile) on Aug 14 2009.
a person who is an expert at a particular computer program or computing technology.
You should ask Tim. He's a real MATLAB hacker.
I'm trying to become a well-known C++ hacker.
- See more words with the same meaning: an expert, a fan.
Last edited on Nov 15 2011. Submitted by WalterGR (via TheJargonFile) on Aug 14 2009.
a person who frequently does work on a computer, using a particular computer program.
He's a Unix hacker.

Last edited on Nov 15 2011. Submitted by WalterGR (via TheJargonFile) on Aug 15 2009.

+	Add a definition for this slang term

Share Tweet E-mail	More info:	Interactive stats:
Share Tweet E-mail	R Related words	Usage Vulgarity SlangMap

Related words

Slang terms with the same meaning

Other terms relating to 'an expert, a fan':
ninja	Definitions include: to do something stealthy or to move stealthily, possibly involving theft or deception.
fanboi	Definitions include: alternate spelling of "fanboy".
wizard	Definitions include: used with a subject matter to refer to a person with deep, expert knowledge of that subject matter.
nutty	Definitions include: crazy.
fanboy	Definitions include: a male fan devoted to a particular thing.
wonk	Definitions include: an expert.
sexpert	Definitions include: a person who is sexually talented.
man	Definitions include: See also the man.
Goopert	Definitions include: an expert at searching Google.
Avatard	Definitions include: a fan of the movie Avatar.
guru	Definitions include: an expert.
guy	Definitions include: an expert or person one goes to for advice or a paid specialist in a given field.
Biebtard	Definitions include: a fan of Justin Bieber.
brony	Definitions include: a male fan of the cartoon show My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic.
hired gun	Definitions include: a person hired for their expertise.
(show 1 more)
Other terms relating to 'computer slang':
FAQ	Definitions include: acronym for "frequently asked question(s)".
kludge	Definitions include: to use one or more kludges (as described in the noun sense) to solve a problem.
CCW	Definitions include: acronym for "constructive criticism welcome".
nerf	Definitions include: in an update or sequel to a video game, to make a weapon weak or weaker, such that it's like a Nerf gun.
TYT	Definitions include: acronym for "take your time".
context switch	Definitions include: to switch between tasks, requiring one to switch their focus on the new task.
NM	Definitions include: "nothing much".
three-finger salute	Definitions include: the pressing of the "Alt" key + the "Ctrl" key + the "Del" key to reboot or unfreeze a PC computer.
code monkey	Definitions include: a person who writes (source) code; "programmer".
sex changer	Definitions include: a cable connector device with either two male or two female connectors on it, used to connect mismatched cables.
PHB	Definitions include: acronym for "pointy-haired boss".
bug-for-bug compatible	Definitions include: so compatible that even the known bugs of product A were replicated in the "bug-for-bug compatible" product B.
pip	Definitions include: a person who acts like they know everything but actually knows nothing.
kthxbye	Definitions include: shortened version of "okay, thanks, bye."
lapper	Definitions include: "laptop".
(show 591 more)

Slang terms with the same root words

Other terms relating to 'hack':
hack	Definitions include: to play with a Hacky Sack (footbag.)
hacked off	Definitions include: extremely mad or irritated.
hacked up	Definitions include: a system that was created by hacking it up over time.
hacking it	Definitions include: To engage in any activity intensely, especially to be intent on using one's computer for any purpose, though not necessarily engaging in illegal activity via the internet.
hack it	Definitions include: to perform one's duties.
hack license	Definitions include: a permit, license or other authority issued by a governmental agency authorizing a person to drive a taxicab in service to customers in that area.
hack off	Definitions include: to make a person angry.
hack on	Definitions include: to work on a pre-existing problem, program, or piece of source code.
hack the carrot	Definitions include: to masturbate
hack together	Definitions include: to hack, with the result being something quickly and sloppily created, or modified to solve a particular problem.
hack up	Definitions include: to hack, with the result being something quickly and sloppily created, or modified to solve a particular problem.
hax0r	Definitions include: "hacker".
haxor	Definitions include: spelling variant of "hacker".
haxxor	Definitions include: "leet" spelling of "hacker".
l33t hax0r	Definitions include: a l33t hax0r.
(show 1 more hide)