Meaning & Definition of word "Pirate"

to

arrow

    Pirate

    /ˈpaɪ.rət/

    noun:

    • 1. A person who robs ships at sea; a sea robber.
      • Example: The infamous pirate Blackbeard terrorized the Caribbean in the early 18th century.
    • 2. A person who engages in unauthorized use or distribution of copyrighted material.
      • Example: The movie industry is struggling against rampant online pirate activity.
    • 3. A person who engages in activities similar to piracy, such as hijacking vessels.
      • Example: Somali pirates have been responsible for numerous hijackings in the Gulf of Aden.

    verb:

    • 1. To illegally copy or use someone else's work.
      • Example: He was accused of pirating software from various websites.

    Etymology

    Middle English from Latin 'pirata', from Greek 'peiratēs' meaning 'to attempt' or 'to try.'

    Common Phrases and Expressions

    pirate radio:

    An illegal radio station that transmits without a license.

    copycat pirate:

    A person who imitates or reproduces someone else's work illegally.

    pirate bay:

    A slang term often used to refer to websites that facilitate illegal downloading.

    Related Words

    privateer:

    A pirate authorized by a government to attack enemy ships.

    corsair:

    A privateer ship that operated in the Mediterranean.

    buccaneer:

    A pirate who raided Spanish settlements along the Caribbean during the 17th century.

    Slang Meanings of pirate

    Meaning: To illegally copy digital content.

    Example Sentence: He's known for pirating movies and sharing them online.

    Meaning: To engage in unauthorized access or hacking.

    Example Sentence: They found out he was pirating networks without consent.