crossword puzzle

American  

noun

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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Etymology

Origin of crossword puzzle

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

Example Sentences

He notes that the interwar period allowed increased leisure time for many, generating fads for new games such as the clue-based crossword puzzle.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026

I do a meditation in bed, I drink my coffee and I’m doing my New York Times crossword puzzle, Wordle, Connections and all the things.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 22, 2024

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

From Slate • Mar. 3, 2024

Natasha Lyonne, star of Netflix's Russian Doll, will help you solve the New York Times crossword puzzle for 15 minutes, should your bid triumph.

From BBC • Sep. 14, 2023

There were all sorts of things—bills, official-looking documents from school, taxes that hadn’t been filed yet, a half-completed crossword puzzle.

From "Made You Up" by Francesca Zappia