Synonyms

decipher

American

[dih-sahy-fer] / dɪˈsaɪ fər /

verb (used with object)

to make out the meaning of (poor or partially obliterated writing, etc.).

to decipher a hastily scribbled note.
to discover the meaning of (anything obscure or difficult to trace or understand).

to decipher hieroglyphics.

Synonyms:

explain, unravel, solve, comprehend
to interpret by the use of a key, as something written in cipher.

to decipher a secret message.
Obsolete. to depict; portray.

decipher British

/ dɪˈsaɪfə /

verb

to determine the meaning of (something obscure or illegible)
to convert from code into plain text; decode

"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

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of decipher

First recorded in 1520–30; translation of Middle French déchiffrer; equivalent to de- + cipher

Explanation

Decipher means translate from code, or more generally, figure out. If you can’t decipher your teacher's writing, it means you can't read it. You might feel like you're being asked to decipher a code. During World War II, the Nazis used a machine called the Enigma to encode secret messages. An operator would type the message with a keyboard, which would activate a set of rotors, giving each letter a different value. The code was difficult for the Allies to crack, but eventually the code was deciphered by the British, hastening the end of the war.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"This research used a molecular technique, known as eDNA metabarcoding to decipher what animals are eating. It's a non-invasive way of studying diet and all you need are fresh scats from the environment."

From Science Daily • May 20, 2026

Administration officials fielded phone calls from executives and political allies trying to decipher whether Trump’s threat was a bluff or a prelude to an escalation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

Carmel-by-the-Sea has long had its own dispatch center, with workers trained to decipher people’s descriptions of where they live, former Police Chief Paul Tomasi told The Times in 2024.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 22, 2026

Brende noted that "the interest is to come together at the beginning of the year to try to connect the dots, decipher, and also see areas where we can collaborate".

From Barron's • Jan. 13, 2026

Celia sits with a notebook and pen, attempting to decipher the system the book is written in.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023