phishingPronunciation: /ˈfɪʃɪŋ/Translate phishing | into German | into Italian Definition of phishing noun [mass noun] the fraudulent practice of sending emails purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers, online. Derivatives phisher noun Origin: 1990s: respelling of fishing, on the pattern of phreakingphishing in other Oxford dictionaries Definition of phishing in the US English dictionary