# pirate

/ˈpaɪɹət/ (US) · /pˈaɪɹət/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. sea criminal

noun · CEFR B1

a person on a ship who attacks other ships at sea to steal their cargo.

For teachers: a person who commits robbery or violence at sea, typically by attacking merchant vessels.

- The captain warned the crew to watch for pirates in the dangerous waters.
- Historically, pirates operated in regions where central naval authority was weak, allowing them to plunder merchant shipping with relative impunity.

### 2. copyright violator

noun · CEFR B2

someone who illegally copies and shares things like movies, music, or computer programs.

For teachers: a person who infringes on intellectual property rights by reproducing or distributing protected works without authorization.

- The software company is trying to stop pirates from sharing their new game online.
- Digital pirates often use encrypted networks to distribute high-definition copies of films before their official theatrical release.

### 3. sports team member

noun · CEFR B2

a player or fan of a sports team called the Pirates.

For teachers: a member, coach, or supporter of any athletic organization using 'Pirates' as their official moniker.

- He has been a lifelong Pirate and never misses a home game.
- The veteran Pirate announced his retirement after leading the team to a surprising victory in the championship series.

### 4. to copy illegally

verb · CEFR B2

to illegally copy or download music, films, or software without paying.

For teachers: to reproduce or distribute copyrighted material without the permission of the rights holder.

- It is much easier to pirate movies today than it was twenty years ago.
- The studio estimated they lost millions in revenue because the blockbuster was pirated and uploaded to the internet weeks early.

### 5. to poach employees

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal · Dialect

to persuade a talented worker to leave their current company and join yours.

For teachers: to recruit or entice an employee away from a competing organization.

- The tech giant tried to pirate the lead engineer from the smaller startup.
- The firm was accused of unethical behavior after attempting to pirate several senior executives from its primary rival during a merger.

Usage: Commonly used in Philippine English and business contexts.

Teaching tip: While used globally in business as 'poaching', the specific term 'pirate' for recruitment is particularly common in the Philippines.

### 6. illegal or unauthorized

adjective · CEFR B2

describes something that is an illegal copy or an unofficial broadcast.

For teachers: referring to products or broadcasts that are illegally produced or transmitted without a license.

- He bought a pirate DVD on the street, but the quality was terrible.
- During the 1960s, pirate radio stations broadcast from ships in international waters to bypass strict government regulations on music.

## Examples

- The pirate ship sailed across the ocean.
- Authorities arrested the man for acting as a digital pirate by hosting thousands of stolen movies on his website.
- While historical accounts often romanticize the golden age of piracy, the reality for a merchant sailor was a constant fear of being boarded by a pirate crew in lawless waters.

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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.