# pirated

/ˈpaɪɹətɪd/ (US) · /pˈaɪɹətɪd/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pirated
Updated: 2026-05-20

## Definition

to copy and share music, movies, or software without paying for them. You usually do this by downloading files from the internet illegally.

For teachers: to reproduce and distribute copyrighted material without the permission of the copyright holder. Often used in the context of digital media and software.

## Examples

- He pirated several movies to watch them on his laptop.
- The software company noticed a significant increase in pirated copies being sold on underground websites.
- Despite the legal risks, many consumers continue to pirated digital content because the cost of legitimate purchases is prohibitively high for the average household.

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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.