cyber

¹

[sahy-ber]

noun

1. (used alone as a substitute for many compound words that begin with the combining form cyber-, as cyberattack, cybersecurity, cyberterrorism, orcyberwarfare ): Ethical hackers are being recruited for careers in cyber.

   GPS may be vulnerable to jamming and cyber.

   Ethical hackers are being recruited for careers in cyber.

adjective

1. of or relating to computers, typically to one of the technology domains named with the combining form cyber-, as cyberterrorism, cyberwarfare, or cyberattack: several cyber breaches; cyber plots.

   a cyber threat;

   several cyber breaches;

   cyber operations;

   cyber plots.

verb (used without object)

1. to engage in cybersex.

   People playing the MMO were cybering in voice chat, sometimes without even creating a separate channel to keep it private.

cyber-

²

Digital Technology.

1. a combining form meaning “computer,” “computer network,” or “virtual reality,” used in the formation of compound words (cybertalk; cyberart; cyberspace ) and by extension meaning “expressing visions of the future” (cyberfashion ).

cyber-

combining form

1. indicating computers

   cyberphobia

cyber–

1. A prefix that means “computer” or “computer network,” as in cyberspace, the electronic medium in which online communication takes place.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cyber-¹

First recorded in 1990–95; from cyber- ( def. )

Origin of cyber-²

Extracted from cybernetics

Word History and Origins

Origin of cyber-¹

C20: back formation from _cybernetics

Example Sentences

The company, which is owned by India's Tata Motors, shut down its systems on Sunday in order to limit potential damage from the cyber attack.

From BBC

The hackers chose the name Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters to reflect the merging of various youth-orientated cyber criminals who are all associated with a network called The Com.

From BBC

Earlier this year the National Crime Agency warned of the growing threat from cyber criminals in The Com.

From BBC

The gangs is also responsible for a wave of cyber attacks on UK retailers including M&S in the spring - and are calling themselves "Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters".

From BBC

They literally want to move the country backward and cause destruction; why else would government agencies dismantle cyber defenses?

From Salon

Related Words

• computerized www.thesaurus.com

When To Use

What does cyber- mean?

Cyber- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “computer” or "computer network." In many instances, it is used to refer generally to the internet. It is often used in technical terms, especially in computer science.Cyber- comes from a shortening of the term cybernetics, meaning “the study of communication and control in humans and mechanical systems.” Cybernetics ultimately comes from Greek kybernḗtēs, meaning "helmsman" or "steersman.” Learn more about cybernetics (and how it is related to the word govern) at our entry for the term.