Pirate Definition & Meaning

American

British

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms pirate American [pahy-ruht] / ˈpaɪ rət /

noun

1. a person who robs or commits illegal violence at sea or on the shores of the sea.

   Synonyms: plunderer, corsair, buccaneer, freebooter

2. a ship used by such persons.

3. any plunderer, predator, etc..

   confidence men, slumlords, and other pirates.

4. a person who uses or reproduces the work or invention of another without authorization.

5. Also called pirate stream. Geology. a stream that diverts into its own flow the headwaters of another stream, river, etc.

verb (used with object)

pirated, pirating

1. to commit piracy upon; plunder; rob.

2. to take by piracy.

   to pirate gold.

3. to use or reproduce (a book, an invention, etc.) without authorization or legal right.

   to pirate hit records.

4. to take or entice away for one's own use.

   Our competitor is trying to pirate our best salesman.

verb (used without object)

pirated, pirating

1. to commit or practice piracy.

pirate British / ˈpaɪrɪt, paɪˈrætɪkəl /

noun

1. a person who commits piracy

2. 1. a vessel used by pirates

   2. ( as modifier )

      a pirate ship

3. a person who illicitly uses or appropriates someone else's literary, artistic, or other work

4. 1. a person or group of people who broadcast illegally

   2. ( as modifier )

      a pirate radio station

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

1. (tr) to use, appropriate, or reproduce (artistic work, ideas, etc) illicitly

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

• piratelike adjective
• piratic adjective
• piratical adjective
• piratically adverb
• unpirated adjective
• unpiratical adjective
• unpiratically adverb

Etymology

Origin of pirate

1250–1300; Middle English < Latin pīrāta < Greek peirātḗs, equivalent to peirā- , variant stem of peirân to attack + -tēs agent noun suffix

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He added: "What politicians in London are talking about is essentially a return to the era of the pirate Edward Teach, known as Blackbeard."

From BBC

Variety called it "the biggest TV surprise" of 2025, and the show has even reportedly drawn a massive audience in China, where fans are watching pirated episodes.

From Barron's

To put it another way: No one has been confused that New Orleans Square has ghosts and pirates next to a cozy place for beignets.

From Los Angeles Times

I could practically see the big pirate X that marked the spot—his ill-gotten treasure lay buried right where his dreams were leading him.

From Literature

"When a film is accessible to a hundred people on a platform with poor security, it can quickly be pirated and circulated everywhere," said Mustapha, the censor board secretary.

From Barron's

Related Words

• raider

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.