dictionary attack

dic·tion·a·ry at·tack
UK/ˌdɪkʃənəɹi əˈtæk/UK/ˌdɪkʃənɹi-/UK/ˌdɪkʃnəɹi-/US/ˌdɪkʃəˌnɛɹi əˈtæk/

noun

An attempt to illegally access a computer network, website, etc., that uses a list of words (from a dictionary) to try to guess decryption keys or passwords.

“Experts warn against using ordinary words as passwords as they are vulnerable to dictionary attacks.”

First used 1980s
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Meanings

noundictionary attack (plural dictionary attacks)

plural dictionary attacks

  1. computingAn attempt to illegally access a computer network, website, etc., that uses a list of words (from a dictionary) to try to guess decryption keys or passwords.First known use 1980s

    Experts warn against using ordinary words as passwords as they are vulnerable to dictionary attacks.

Origin

From dictionary + attack.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Arabic هجوم المعجم
  • هجوم المعجمattempt to illegally access a computer network, website, etc., that uses a list of words to try and guess decryption keys or passwords
Catalan atac de diccionari
  • atac de diccionariattempt to illegally access a computer network, website, etc., that uses a list of words to try and guess decryption keys or passwords
Chinese Mandarin 字典攻擊 /字典攻击
  • 字典攻擊 /字典攻击 (zìdiǎn gōngjī)attempt to illegally access a computer network, website, etc., that uses a list of words to try and guess decryption keys or passwords
Czech slovníkový útok
  • slovníkový útokattempt to illegally access a computer network, website, etc., that uses a list of words to try and guess decryption keys or passwords
Danish ordbogsangreb
  • ordbogsangrebattempt to illegally access a computer network, website, etc., that uses a list of words to try and guess decryption keys or passwords
Dutch woordenboekaanval
  • woordenboekaanvalattempt to illegally access a computer network, website, etc., that uses a list of words to try and guess decryption keys or passwords
Finnish sanakirjahyökkäys
  • sanakirjahyökkäysattempt to illegally access a computer network, website, etc., that uses a list of words to try and guess decryption keys or passwords
French attaque par dictionnaire
  • attaque par dictionnaireattempt to illegally access a computer network, website, etc., that uses a list of words to try and guess decryption keys or passwords
German Wörterbuchangriff
  • Wörterbuchangriffattempt to illegally access a computer network, website, etc., that uses a list of words to try and guess decryption keys or passwords
Italian attacco a dizionario
  • attacco a dizionarioattempt to illegally access a computer network, website, etc., that uses a list of words to try and guess decryption keys or passwords
Japanese 辞書攻撃
  • 辞書攻撃 (jisho kōgeki)attempt to illegally access a computer network, website, etc., that uses a list of words to try and guess decryption keys or passwords
Korean 사전 공격
  • 사전 공격 (sajeon gonggyeok)attempt to illegally access a computer network, website, etc., that uses a list of words to try and guess decryption keys or passwords
Norwegian Bokmål ordbokangrep
  • ordbokangrepattempt to illegally access a computer network, website, etc., that uses a list of words to try and guess decryption keys or passwords
Persian حمله لغتنامهای
  • حمله لغتنامهایattempt to illegally access a computer network, website, etc., that uses a list of words to try and guess decryption keys or passwords
Polish atak słownikowy
  • atak słownikowyattempt to illegally access a computer network, website, etc., that uses a list of words to try and guess decryption keys or passwords
Portuguese ataque de dicionário
  • ataque de dicionárioattempt to illegally access a computer network, website, etc., that uses a list of words to try and guess decryption keys or passwords
Punjabi ਡਿਕਸ਼ਨਰੀ ਅਟੈਕ
  • ਡਿਕਸ਼ਨਰੀ ਅਟੈਕ (ḍikśanarī aṭaik)attempt to illegally access a computer network, website, etc., that uses a list of words to try and guess decryption keys or passwords
Russian перебо́р по словарю́
  • перебо́р по словарю́ (perebór po slovarjú)attempt to illegally access a computer network, website, etc., that uses a list of words to try and guess decryption keys or passwords
Spanish ataque de diccionario
  • ataque de diccionarioattempt to illegally access a computer network, website, etc., that uses a list of words to try and guess decryption keys or passwords
Swedish ordboksattack
  • ordboksattackattempt to illegally access a computer network, website, etc., that uses a list of words to try and guess decryption keys or passwords
Thai การโจมตีด้วยคำจากพจนานุกรม
  • การโจมตีด้วยคำจากพจนานุกรมattempt to illegally access a computer network, website, etc., that uses a list of words to try and guess decryption keys or passwords
Ukrainian перебі́р за словнико́м
  • перебі́р за словнико́м (perebír za slovnykóm)attempt to illegally access a computer network, website, etc., that uses a list of words to try and guess decryption keys or passwords
Vietnamese tấn công từ điển
  • tấn công từ điểnattempt to illegally access a computer network, website, etc., that uses a list of words to try and guess decryption keys or passwords

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with dictionary attack

backtrackfaqIraqpackattacklackstackpacCadillacSlovakjacquesplaquesnacksacmacktaclacshacktackMachslackfacsmack
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

dictionary attack. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dictionary%20attack

MLA

“dictionary attack.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dictionary%20attack. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “dictionary attack,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dictionary%20attack.

Source: dictionary attack on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.