hacking
C1Technical, Informal (in computing context), Neutral (in other contexts)
Definition
Meaning
The activity of using computers to gain unauthorized access to data or systems.
The act of using a computer to exploit weaknesses in a system or network; also, a persistent, rough cough; or the act of cutting something roughly (often with 'at').
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
In computing, 'hacking' can have negative (malicious) or positive (ethical/white-hat) connotations depending on context. Outside computing, it often describes a rough, ineffective action or a short, dry cough.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in computing usage. In non-computing contexts, Brits might more readily use 'hacking' for a persistent cough (e.g., 'He's got a hacking cough') or for amateurish/rough computer work. Americans may slightly favor 'coughing' over 'hacking' for the cough sense.
Connotations
Identical negative connotations for malicious cyber activity. 'Hacking away at' a problem is slightly more common in British English.
Frequency
The computing sense is overwhelmingly dominant and equally frequent in both varieties. The 'cough' sense is used in both but might be perceived as slightly more British.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
hacking into [system/account]hacking [direct object: system/website]accused of hackingguilty of hackinghacking away at [problem/task]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “hacking away at something (working persistently but inelegantly)”
- “have a hacking cough”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Discussed as a major security risk requiring investment in firewalls and staff training.
Academic
Studied in computer science, cybersecurity, and sociology of technology.
Everyday
Commonly refers to cybercrime in news reports. Also used for a bad cough.
Technical
Precise term for exploiting vulnerabilities in hardware or software, subdivided into white-hat/black-hat.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He was arrested for hacking the company's server.
- She spent the afternoon hacking away at the code.
American English
- They hacked into the electoral database.
- He was just hacking at the bushes with a dull machete.
adjective
British English
- He had a terrible hacking cough all through the meeting.
- They used basic hacking tools.
American English
- The suspect had hacking software on his laptop.
- A hacking jacket is a type of sports coat.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Hacking is bad for computers.
- He has a hacking cough.
- The news reported a hacking attack on a bank.
- She was hacking away at the old tree branch.
- The government is introducing new laws to punish hacking.
- Ethical hacking is used to find security weaknesses before criminals do.
- The sophistication of the hacking suggested state-sponsored involvement.
- Despite hacking at the problem for weeks, they failed to find an elegant solution.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a person with a HACKing cough trying to break into a computer system with a digital AXE (hack).
Conceptual Metaphor
HACKING IS FORCIBLE ENTRY (breaking into a system) / HACKING IS ROUGH CUTTING (a hacking cough, hacking at a problem).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'хакерство' which is narrower (only the person/activity of a hacker). 'Hacking' is the activity itself. Also, do not translate 'hacking cough' as 'кашель хакера' – it's 'сухой отрывистый кашель'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'hacking' to mean simple programming (incorrect). Confusing 'hacking' (activity) with 'a hack' (a clever solution or a journalist).
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is NOT a common meaning of 'hacking'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Ethical hacking' or 'penetration testing' is legal and performed by security professionals with permission to find system vulnerabilities.
Hacking typically involves directly exploiting technical weaknesses in a system. Phishing is a social engineering attack that tricks users into giving away passwords or data, often as a first step for hacking.
Yes. It can describe a rough, dry cough ('a hacking cough') or the action of cutting or chopping something roughly ('hacking through the jungle').
A 'hack' is often a clever shortcut or a quick, inelegant solution. 'Hacking' is the ongoing activity or process of breaking into systems or chopping roughly.