hacker
UK: ˈhækə | US: ˈhækər
n. 1. A person who uses computers to gain unauthorized access to data or systems.
n. 2. A skilled programmer who enjoys solving technical problems creatively.
n. 3. (informal) An enthusiast or expert in a particular field (e.g., "life hacker").
hack<cut/chop> + er<agent suffix>
- hack: From Old English haccian ("to cut roughly"), later extended to mean "work creatively on technical systems."
- er: Agent noun suffix indicating "one who does something."
Etymology Origin:
The term "hacker" originated in the 1960s MIT tech culture, where it initially described programmers who "hacked" inelegant solutions to problems (like carving a path). By the 1980s, it split into two meanings: (1) skilled problem-solvers and (2) malicious intruders ("crackers"). The dual meaning reflects the word’s evolution from literal cutting to metaphorical "breaking into" systems.
The hacker bypassed the firewall to access confidential files.
She’s a brilliant hacker who develops open-source software.
Life hackers optimize daily routines using productivity tools.
The company hired ethical hackers to test its cybersecurity.
Early computer hackers at MIT pioneered programming innovations.