piracy
PY-ruh-see
/ˈpaɪrəsi/
The practice of attacking and robbing ships at sea; the unauthorized use or reproduction of another's work.
Has both a literal meaning (sea robbery) and a figurative meaning (intellectual property theft).
The story behind the word. The word 'piracy' comes from the Greek 'peirates,' meaning 'one who attacks' or 'one who attempts.' This root suggests an adventurous, perhaps even reckless, spirit of venturing out to seize what isn't yours. From ancient Mediterranean raiders to modern-day digital thieves, the core idea of unauthorized taking remains.
Word relationships
- buccaneering: Historical term for piracy, especially in the Caribbean.
- freebooting: Engaging in piracy or plunder.
- infringement: Specifically for intellectual property theft.
- legality: Adherence to law.
- authorization: Official permission.
Word family
- pirate (noun): A person who commits piracy.
- piratical (adj): Relating to pirates or piracy.
Collocations
- maritime piracy
- software piracy
- digital piracy
- anti-piracy measures
Example sentences
- "Modern piracy remains a serious threat in certain international shipping lanes, particularly off the coast of Somalia." Discussing maritime crime.
- "Software piracy costs the industry billions of dollars annually, hindering innovation and legitimate sales." Referring to intellectual property.
Memory hook
PIRACY is a PI-rate's RACY business of stealing. Pirate's racy business
When not to use
Ensure context clarifies which type of 'piracy' is being discussed, especially in informal settings.
Fun facts
- The 'Jolly Roger' flag, with its skull and crossbones, was used by several pirate captains in the 18th century to intimidate their victims.
Related words
Explore more words
infringement, plagiarize, intellectual property, copyright, patent, citation
Also appears in
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