# piracy

/ˈpaɪɹəsi/ (US) · /pˈaɪəɹəsˌi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/piracy
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. robbery at sea

noun · CEFR B2

the crime of attacking ships at sea to steal goods or take control of the vessel.

For teachers: the practice of attacking and robbing ships at sea; legally, it involves unauthorized acts of violence or detention on the high seas.

- The navy was sent to the coast to protect merchant ships from piracy.
- International maritime law provides a framework for prosecuting piracy, which remains a significant threat to global trade routes in certain regions.

Usage: Uncountable when referring to the general practice; countable when referring to specific incidents.

### 2. illegal copying

noun · CEFR B2

the act of illegally copying and selling books, films, music, or computer programs.

For teachers: the unauthorized use or reproduction of copyrighted or patented material, especially for commercial gain.

- Software piracy costs the technology industry billions of dollars every year.
- The studio implemented advanced digital rights management to combat the rampant piracy that typically follows a major film release.

Usage: Often used as an uncountable noun in the context of intellectual property law.

### 3. unlicensed broadcasting

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

running a radio or TV station without a legal license.

For teachers: the operation of an unlicensed radio or television station, often broadcasting from international waters to bypass national regulations.

- In the 1960s, radio piracy was common as DJs broadcast from ships.
- The government cracked down on radio piracy by introducing stricter licensing laws and seizing illegal transmitters.

Teaching tip: This sense is less common today due to the rise of internet streaming, but it is historically significant in British media history.

## Examples

- The movie studio is fighting online piracy.
- International navies patrol the coast to protect merchant vessels from piracy and kidnapping.
- While historical piracy was defined by physical violence on the high seas, modern digital piracy poses a significant economic challenge to the global entertainment and software industries.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.