English · Word Candidate

hacking

/ˈhækɪŋ/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: hackings

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Short and interrupted, broken, jerky; hacky.

Adjective

A hacking cough. A hacking laugh. A hacking breath. A hacking cry.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Meaning · English

Playful solving of technical work that requires deep understanding, especially of a computer system.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Meaning · English

Unauthorized attempts to bypass the security mechanisms of an information system or network.

Noun

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

What does “hacking” mean?

Short and interrupted, broken, jerky; hacky.

Is “hacking” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.