trojan
noun · verb · adjective
Simple meaning
A program that appears desirable but actually contains something harmful.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
trohjuhnSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈtɹoʊdʒən
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
computing
A program that appears desirable but actually contains something harmful
“The contents of a trojan can be a virus or a worm.”
computing
Malware that appears to perform or actually performs a desired task for a user while performing a harmful task without the user's knowledge or consent.
A native or inhabitant of the ancient city of Troy.
A student (especially an athlete) of the University of Southern California.
in similes
One who shows great pluck, endurance, strength, etc.
verb
computingtransitive
To infect (a system) with a trojan.
adjective
Of or relating to the ancient city of Troy or its inhabitants
Involving great strength or endurance.
astronomy
Describing a satellite (moon or minor planet) that shares an orbit with another
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- B1 · Intermediate (estimated)
- Frequency
- Moderately Common
- Typical Use
- Neutral / general English
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: A program that appears desirable but actually contains something harmful
Used this way, trojan is a specialist word with a faintly unfavourable edge. This is a computing use: it carries a fixed technical meaning inside software and systems work.
“The contents of a trojan can be a virus or a worm.”
- Emotional tone
- Slightly negative
- Formality
- Specialist/technical
- Intensity
- Moderate
- How common
- Specialized
- Connotation
- Critical or judgemental
- Usage feel
- Clinical and detached
Where it naturally appears
- Technology
- Technical/specialist writing
- Business/professional
Usage note
In general conversation this sense usually needs explaining — outside its field, people reach for a plainer word.
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
A subversive group that supports the enemy and engages in espionage or sabotage.
A great war fought between Greece and Troy.
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.