Geek vs. Hacker — What's the Difference?

The word geek is a slang term originally used to describe eccentric or non-mainstream people; in current use, the word typically connotes an expert or enthusiast obsessed with a hobby or intellectual pursuit. In the past, it had a generally pejorative meaning of a "peculiar person, especially one who is perceived to be overly intellectual, unfashionable, boring, or socially awkward".

A computer hacker is a computer expert who uses their technical knowledge to achieve a goal or overcome an obstacle, within a computerized system by non-standard means. Though the term hacker has become associated in popular culture with a security hacker – someone who utilizes their technical know-how of bugs or exploits to break into computer systems and access data which would otherwise be unavailable to them – hacking can also be utilized by legitimate figures in legal situations.

A person regarded as foolish, inept, or clumsy.

One who is proficient at using or programming a computer; a computer buff.

A person who is single-minded or accomplished in scientific or technical pursuits but is felt to be socially inept.

One who uses programming skills to gain illegal access to a computer network or file.

A carnival performer whose show consists of bizarre acts, such as biting the head off a live chicken.

One who demonstrates poor or mediocre ability, especially in a sport

To excite emotionally

See hackie.

(dated) A carnival performer specializing in bizarre and unappetizing behavior.

(computing) One who is expert at programming and solving problems with a computer.

(colloquial) A person who is intensely interested in a particular field or hobby and often having limited or nonstandard social skills. Often used with an attributive noun.

One who uses a computer to gain unauthorized access to data, or to carry out malicious attacks.

An expert in a technical field, particularly one having to do with computers.

(computer security) A computer security professional, a white-hat hacker.

The subculture of geeks; an esoteric subject of interest that is marginal to the social mainstream; the philosophy, events, and physical artifacts of geeks; geekness.

Something that hacks; a tool or device for hacking.

(colloquial) An unfashionable or socially undesirable person.

A fork-shaped tool used to harvest root vegetables.

A look.

Someone who hacks.

(colloquial) To behave geekishly or in a socially awkward manner, especially when under the influence of drugs or other psycho-active substances, and exhibiting such marked characteristics as hyperactivity, repetitiveness, talkativeness, nervousness, irritability, or paranoia.

One who cuts with rough or heavy blows.

(colloquial) To enthusiastically engage in or discuss geek-like interests.

One who kicks wildly or roughly.

(Cornwall) To look; to peep; to stare about intently.

One who is consistent and focuses on accomplishing a task or several tasks.

A performer in a carnival, often presented as a wild man, who performs grotesquely disgusting acts, such as biting the head off a live chicken or snake.

(US) One who is inexperienced or unskilled at a particular activity, especially a sport such as golf or tennis.

Any eccentric or strange person; an oddball; an eccentric.

(US) One who operates a taxicab.

A student who is socially inept and a misfit in his class, especially one who is an intellectual; a nerd; a dork.

One who, or that which, hacks.

An intellectually inclined person, especially one who is interested in scientific or technical subjects; as, a group of geeks wearing pocket protectors; - originally a deprecatory and contemptuous term, but in the 1990's, with the increase in popularity of computers and the frequency of accumulation of great wealth by computer entrepreneurs, it has come to be used with noticeable frequency by technically competent people to refer to themselves, ironically and sometimes proudly.

Someone who plays golf poorly

A carnival performer who does disgusting acts

A programmer who breaks into computer systems in order to steal or change or destroy information as a form of cyber-terrorism

A person with an unusual or odd personality

A programmer for whom computing is its own reward; may enjoy the challenge of breaking into other computers but does no harm;

One who works hard at boring tasks