a person who secretly supports or adheres to a group, party, or belief.
What does crypto- mean? Crypto- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “hidden, secret.” It is used in many scientific, medical, and other technical terms. Crypto- comes from the Greek kryptós, meaning “hidden.” The word crypt also derives from this root. Dig up the connection at our entry for the word. In anatomy, crypto- specifically refers to a crypt in its specialized sense of a “slender pit or recess” or a “small glandular cavity.”What are variants of crypto-?When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, crypto- becomes crypt-, as in cryptitis.
First recorded in 1945–50; probably independent use of crypto-; cf. -o
Combining form representing Greek kryptós hidden. See crypt
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The special guests included crypto, media and tech billionaires — among them Mark Zuckerberg, whose company Meta has partnered with UFC, and David Ellison, whose company Paramount holds the exclusive broadcast rights.
From Salon • Jun. 17, 2026
Shares of Robinhood Markets surged in early Tuesday trading, as investors cheered the stock and crypto trading platform’s disclosure that it was cutting nearly 300 jobs.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 16, 2026
Polymarket’s decision “makes no logical sense,” wrote Jeff Dorman, chief investment officer of crypto hedge fund Arca.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 13, 2026
The crypto billionaire's quick rise was matched by his fall with FTX collapsing after a deluge of customer withdrawals.
From Barron's • Jun. 12, 2026
“After university I went straight to work as a crypto math researcher at the Doughnut,” she said.
From "City Spies" by James Ponti
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
