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conundrum

[ kuh-nuhn-druhm ]
/ kəˈnʌn drəm /
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noun

a riddle, the answer to which involves a pun or play on words, as What is black and white and read all over? A newspaper.
anything that puzzles.

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Origin of conundrum

First recorded in 1590–1600; pseudo-Latin word of obscure origin
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use conundrum in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for conundrum

conundrum
/ (kəˈnʌndrəm) /

noun

a riddle, esp one whose answer makes a play on words
a puzzling question or problem

Word Origin for conundrum

C16: of unknown origin
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
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