piracy
Piracy (noun) means Robbery or hijacking committed at sea against a ship not under the attacker's control. Example: “The cargo ship altered course to avoid waters known for piracy.”
How to use piracy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither armed robbery at sea, or illegally copying and sharing copyrighted content.
Word forms
piracies plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The cargo ship altered course to avoid waters known for _____.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin piratia, ultimately from Greek peirateia. English extended the word from actual sea robbery to unauthorized copying in the late 1600s, when the Crown's printing monopolies made unlicensed book printers seem like "pirates" attacking legitimate trade — a sense that later carried over naturally to music, film, and software.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for piracy
See all rhymes for piracy →Frequently asked questions
What does “piracy” mean?
The word “piracy” means robbery or hijacking committed at sea against a ship not under the attacker's control. In plain terms, either armed robbery at sea, or illegally copying and sharing copyrighted content.
How do you pronounce “piracy”?
“Piracy” is pronounced PEYE-ruh-see (/ˈpaɪɹəsi/ in IPA).
How do you use “piracy” in a sentence?
Here is “piracy” used in a sentence: “The cargo ship altered course to avoid waters known for piracy.”
What part of speech is “piracy”?
“Piracy” is a noun.
Where does the word “piracy” come from?
The word “piracy” dates back to around 1600 and comes from Medieval Latin.
Is “piracy” a common word?
“Piracy” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “piracy” have?
“Piracy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: robbery or hijacking committed at sea against a ship not under the attacker's control.