1. a person who illegally gains access to telephone networks or systems, typically to make free calls or obtain confidential information
Usage: informal; slang; often used in computing and telecommunications contexts

Examples

• The phreaker was caught after making unauthorized long-distance calls through the company's system.
• In the 1970s and 1980s, phreakers exploited vulnerabilities in telephone networks.
• Law enforcement agencies worked to identify the phreaker responsible for the security breach.
• The young phreaker used a blue box device to manipulate the telephone system.
• Phone companies implemented new security measures to prevent phreakers from accessing their networks.