plural piracies
1
: an act of robbery on the high seas
also
: an act resembling such robbery
2
: robbery on the high seas
3
a
: the unauthorized use of another's production, invention, or conception especially in infringement of a copyright
b
: the illicit accessing of broadcast signals
Examples of piracy in a Sentence
piracy on the high seas
many countries have harsh penalties for piracy now
Recent Examples on the Web
Commentary and opinions An AI firm won a lawsuit for copyright infringement — but may face a huge bill for piracy, writes columnist Michael Hiltzik.
—
Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2025
More to Explore Monaco, a Mediterranean Principality Shaped by the Middle Ages
Rob Crossan
March 21, 2025
From Grimaldi piracy in the Medieval era to the high-stakes gambling tables of the present, Monaco celebrates its ties to science, religion, and royalty.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 20 June 2025
The park is also one of several spots in both the Inner and Outer Banks where Blackbeard was known to roam during his heyday of piracy.
—Caroline Eubanks, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2025
In one case, the conservative-leaning US Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit ruled in October 2024 that Grande Communications should have terminated Internet users accused of piracy.
—ArsTechnica, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for piracy
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2025
More to Explore Monaco, a Mediterranean Principality Shaped by the Middle Ages
Rob Crossan
March 21, 2025
From Grimaldi piracy in the Medieval era to the high-stakes gambling tables of the present, Monaco celebrates its ties to science, religion, and royalty.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 20 June 2025
The park is also one of several spots in both the Inner and Outer Banks where Blackbeard was known to roam during his heyday of piracy.
—Caroline Eubanks, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2025
In one case, the conservative-leaning US Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit ruled in October 2024 that Grande Communications should have terminated Internet users accused of piracy.
—ArsTechnica, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for piracy
Cite this Entry
“Piracy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/piracy. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
piracy
noun
pi·ra·cy
ˈpī-rə-sē 
plural piracies
1
: robbery on the high seas
2
: the use of another's production or invention without permission
Legal Definition
piracy
noun
pi·ra·cy
ˈpī-rə-sē
plural piracies
1
: an act of robbery especially on the high seas
specifically
: an illegal act of violence, detention, or plunder committed for private ends by crew or passengers of a private ship or aircraft against another ship or aircraft on the high seas or in a place outside the jurisdiction of any state see also air piracy
2
a
: the unauthorized copying, distribution, or use of another's production (as a film) especially in infringement of a copyright
software piracy
b
: the unauthorized use, interception, or receipt of encoded communications (as satellite cable programming) especially to avoid paying fees for use
the statute's purpose is to proscribe the piracy of programming signals—United States v. Harrell, 983 F.2d 36 (1993)
United States v. Harrell, 983 F.2d 36 (1993)3
: the crime of committing piracy
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