WHITE HAT Definition & Meaning

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white hat

[hwahyt hat, wahyt]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Informal.

a virtuous hero, especially in a cowboy movie; good guy.
Also called white hat hacker.��Computers.��a hacker who violates the security of a system with the knowledge and consent of the owner or developer in order to test the code, without malicious intent.

white hat

noun

informal��
1. a computer hacker who is hired by an organization to undertake nonmalicious hacking work in order to discover computer-security flaws
2. ( as modifier ) Compare black hat
  a white-hat hacker

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Other 51�Թ� Forms

white-hat adjective
white-hatted adjective

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of white hat¹

First recorded in 1960–65 white hat for def. 1, and in 1990–95 white hat for def. 2; from the white hat often worn by the virtuous hero in a cowboy movie

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Phoenix’s Joe watches Henry Fonda movies and wears a symbolic white hat.

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The spry 76-year-old with bushy gray hair growing horizontally off his head like a subdued Doc Brown is the white hat — the boss — on his crew.

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Jackie Smith of Placer County came decked in full suffragist gear — a white blazer and pants, as well as a wide-brimmed white hat.

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Wearing a gray Mater Dei T-shirt and white hat, Raul Lara is reminded constantly how strange he looks in Monarchs football gear by his acquaintances from his Long Beach Poly coaching days.

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The lawmaker’s staff did not find other states that have hired independent hackers, although Missouri has hired a company that employs “white hat hackers” to provide that service.

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Related 51�Թ�s

affable��
amiable��
attractive��
charming��
easygoing��
gregarious��
likable��
pleasant��

white-handed gibbon whitehead

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