crossword puzzle

American  

noun

• crossword puzzles
  plural

1. a puzzle in which words corresponding to numbered clues or definitions are supplied and fitted into correspondingly numbered sets of squares, one letter per square, the words being arranged horizontally or vertically so that most letters form part of two words.

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crossword puzzle British  

/ ˈkrɒsˌwɜːd /

noun

1. Sometimes shortened to: crossword. a puzzle in which the solver deduces words suggested by numbered clues and writes them into corresponding boxes in a grid to form a vertical and horizontal pattern

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• crossword puzzles
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of crossword puzzle

1910–15; cross- + word, allegedly for earlier word cross

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

crossword puzzle

Coxon said he gave it a tricky crossword puzzle and marveled as it reasoned through the problem.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026

"You could really see the opportunity -- not just for a crossword puzzle, but for a collection of games," he noted.

From Barron's ● May 16, 2026

Windey said yes as the two hung out together in the hotel bed in the morning, working a bespoke crossword puzzle that carried the message “Will you marry me Gabby?”

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 5, 2025

In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Anna shares how much crossword puzzle creators get paid.

From Slate ● Mar. 3, 2024

If it comes up in a crossword puzzle, I'll leave the spaces blank and work around them.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris

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