Definition

A type of online scam where someone pretends to be a trustworthy source to steal personal information, often through fake emails or websites.

Example

The company warned its employees about a recent phish that tried to steal their login details.

Conversation

Have you heard about that recent phish that was going around?

Yeah, I read that it tricked a lot of people into giving away their information.

It's scary how convincing these phish can be.

I know! We really need to be more careful online.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Definition

To attempt to trick someone into giving personal information, such as passwords or credit card numbers, usually through deceptive emails or websites.

Example

Cybercriminals often phish by sending fake emails that look like they are from legitimate companies.

Tense Forms

Conversation

I heard someone tried to phish my email last night.

That's so frustrating! Did they succeed?

No, luckily I caught it in time and reported it.

Root Explanation

The word 'phish' is a variant of 'fish', which comes from Old English 'fisc', meaning fish. The 'ph-' spelling is a play on the word 'fish' used in the context of online scams, particularly to describe the act of tricking individuals into revealing personal information. Thus, 'phish' refers to the act of fishing for personal data.

Memory Tip

Think of the word 'fish' and how it relates to the idea of 'fishing' for information online — that's why 'phish' means to trick someone into giving up their personal data.

Visually Confused Words