noun

phishing

FISH-ing

Phishing (noun) means the practice of sending fake emails, texts or web pages that imitate a trusted organisation in order to trick people into handing over passwords, card numbers or other private information. Example: “The email claiming to be from her bank was phishing.”

noun

The practice of sending fake emails, texts or web pages that imitate a trusted organisation in order to trick people into handing over passwords, card numbers or other private information.

"The email claiming to be from her bank was phishing."

"Staff take an annual course on spotting phishing."

verb

Present participle of phish: to attempt such a trick.

"Criminals are phishing for login details using fake delivery notices."

How to Use Phishing

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishFake messages pretending to be a company you trust, sent to steal your passwords or money.

When to use it

Standard term in security, banking and IT; always spelt with ph-.

Easily confused with

phishing → fishing → spoofing smishing

Common pairings

phishing email phishing attack phishing scam phishing link report phishing

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The email claiming to be from her bank was _____.

Etymology

A respelling of 'fishing', on the model of earlier hacker slang such as 'phreaking'; the idea is of baiting a hook and waiting for someone to bite.

Origin: English

Synonyms

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online fraud spoofing social engineering

Rhymes for phishing

fishing dishing swishing vanishing perishing finishing punishing polishing ravishing nourishing publishing furnishing

See all rhymes for phishing →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between phishing and spear phishing?

Phishing is sent in bulk to anyone, with generic wording. Spear phishing targets a specific person or company using real details about them, which makes it far more convincing and harder to spot.

How can you tell an email is phishing?

Look for a sender address that does not match the real domain, urgent threats about accounts being closed, links whose true destination differs from the visible text, and requests for credentials or payment. When in doubt, go to the site yourself rather than clicking.

What is the difference between phishing and smishing?

They are the same trick on different channels: phishing arrives by email, smishing by SMS text message, and vishing by voice call.