hack
n. countablen. a clever tip or trick that makes a task easier or faster. It can also mean a person who does boring, low-quality work for money, like a writer who doesn't care about the topic.
n. a clever or non-obvious solution to a problem, often involving a shortcut; also, a person who produces mediocre or uninspired work for hire. Informal in its 'shortcut' sense; often derogatory when referring to a professional.
This kitchen hack saves me ten minutes every morning.
The internet is full of productivity hacks, but most people just need to put their phones away and focus.
The veteran journalist dismissed the new hire as a political hack who was more interested in pleasing the party than reporting the facts accurately.
From Middle English hacken, hakken, from Old English haccian (“to hack”), from Proto-West Germanic hakkōn, from Proto-Germanic hakkōną (“to chop; hoe; hew”), from Proto-Indo-European keg-, *keng- (“to be sharp; peg; hook; handle”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian häkje (“to hack”), West Frisian hakje (“to hack”), Dutch hakken (“to chop up; hack”), German hacken (“to chop; hack; hoe”), Danish hakke (“to chop”), Swedish hacka (“to hack; chop”), French hacher (“to chop”). The computer senses date back to at least 1955 when it initially referred to creative problem solving. By 1963, the negative connotations of “black hat” or malicious hacking had become associated with telephone hacking (cf. phreaking).
Variations of hatch, heck.
Abbreviation of hackney (“an ordinary horse”), probably from place name Hackney.
Unclear. Perhaps imitative; compare hock, hawk. Alternatively, perhaps from hack (“chop; do something difficult”) via the idea of doing something (like breathing) or with difficulty.
From hackysack.
Commonly used in compound nouns like 'life hack' or 'travel hack'.