black hat

noun, Informal.
1.
a villain, as in a cowboy movie; bad guy.
Compare white hat.
Idioms
2.
wear / put on a black hat, to behave villainously.
British Dictionary definitions for black hat

black hat

noun
1.
(informal)
  1. a computer hacker who carries out illegal malicious hacking work
  2. (as modifier): black-hat hackers Compare white hat
Slang definitions & phrases for black hat

black hat

modifier

: the black-hat rustler in the horse opera

noun phrase
  1. A villain; heavy: The only way I can do that is to make you the black hat/ This time, perhaps, there are black hats on both sides
  2. he badge or symbol of a villain: Companies have this black hat on when they go to court
verb

: They do not try to penetrate security systems or conduct clandestine tests... ''There is no black-hatting''

[1970s+; frtheHollywoodtraditionthat villains in western movies always wore black hats]