crypto

[ krip-toh ]

noun,plural cryp·tos.
  1. a person who secretly supports or adheres to a group, party, or belief.

adjective
  1. secret or hidden; not publicly admitted: a crypto Nazi.

Origin of crypto

1
First recorded in 1945–50; probably independent use of crypto-; cf. -o

Other definitions for crypto- (2 of 2)

crypto-

  1. a combining form meaning “hidden,” “secret,” used in the formation of compound words: cryptograph.

Origin of crypto-

2
Combining form representing Greek kryptós hidden. See crypt
  • Also especially before a vowel, crypt-.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use crypto in a sentence

  • So I knew that crypto would keep me safe from eavesdroppers, but I wasn't ready to deal with histograms.

    Little Brother | Cory Doctorow
  • I wasn't too worried about getting caught doing this, because I had good crypto on my side.

    Little Brother | Cory Doctorow
  • You can't tell who's passing Xnet packets by looking at the contents of those packets, thanks to crypto.

    Little Brother | Cory Doctorow
  • The problem is that if there's too much crypto in someone's Internet connection, they'll stand out as unusual.

    Little Brother | Cory Doctorow
  • Web of trust is one of those cool crypto things that I'd read about but never tried.

    Little Brother | Cory Doctorow

British Dictionary definitions for crypto-

crypto-

combining form
  1. secret, hidden, or concealed: cryptography; crypto-fascist

Origin of crypto-

1
New Latin, from Greek kruptos hidden, from kruptein to hide

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012