noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

piracy

PEYE-ruh-see

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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.”

noun

Robbery or hijacking committed at sea against a ship not under the attacker's control.

"The cargo ship altered course to avoid waters known for piracy."

The unauthorized copying or distribution of material protected by copyright.

"The studio blamed falling DVD sales on online piracy."

"Software piracy costs developers billions each year."

How to use piracy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither armed robbery at sea, or illegally copying and sharing copyrighted content.

Common pairings

software piracy act of piracy crack down on piracy

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: piracies

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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.

Origin: Medieval Latin · First attested 1600

Class of 1600 piracy joined the language around 1600.

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Synonyms

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plagiarism buccaneering plagiarization plagiarisation

Related words

buccaneering plagiarism

Rhymes for piracy

racy lacy Macy Gacy Stacy Tracy lunacy papacy legacy privacy fallacy accuracy

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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.

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