# botnet

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈbɒtnɛt/ · frequency rank #52,818

## Definitions
1. A collection of compromised computers that is gradually built up and then unleashed as a DDOS attack or used to send very large quantities of spam.
2. spyware

## Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *h₃erbʰ-
Proto-Indo-European *-os
Proto-Indo-European *h₃órbʰos
Proto-Balto-Slavic *árbas
Proto-Slavic *orbъ
Proto-Indo-European *-yeti
Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti
Proto-Balto-Slavic *-éitei
Proto-Slavic *-iti
Proto-Slavic *orbiti
Proto-Indo-European *-otéh₂
Proto-Balto-Slavic *-atā́ˀ
Proto-Slavic *-ota
Proto-Slavic *orbota
Old Czech robota
Czech robota
Czech robotbor.
English robot
English bot
Proto-Indo-European *neHd-
Proto-Indo-European *-yós
Proto-Germanic *natją
Proto-West Germanic *nati
Old English nett
Middle English net
English net
English botnet
From bot + net.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/botnet