white hat

[hwahyt hat, wahyt]

noun

Informal.

1. a virtuous hero, especially in a cowboy movie; good guy.

2. 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

1. 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

Other Word Forms

• white-hat adjective
• white-hatted adjective

Word 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

Example Sentences

Joe wears a white hat and clearly considers himself the story’s hero, although he’s not up to the job.

From Los Angeles Times

Atop his head is a green and white hat, with “LA” embroidered on its front.

From Los Angeles Times

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

From Los Angeles Times

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.

From Los Angeles Times

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

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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