a person who secretly supports or adheres to a group, party, or belief.
What does crypto- mean? Crypto- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “hidden, secret.” It is used in many scientific, medical, and other technical terms. Crypto- comes from the Greek kryptós, meaning “hidden.” The word crypt also derives from this root. Dig up the connection at our entry for the word. In anatomy, crypto- specifically refers to a crypt in its specialized sense of a “slender pit or recess” or a “small glandular cavity.”What are variants of crypto-?When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, crypto- becomes crypt-, as in cryptitis.
First recorded in 1945–50; probably independent use of crypto-; cf. -o
Combining form representing Greek kryptós hidden. See crypt
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The firm also says that 54% of respondents said that “feeling financially behind” drives their crypto investment choices.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
Crypto tycoon Justin Sun boasted of having invested $75 million with a Trump-linked crypto firm.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
Getting such a charter would give huge latitude to crypto banks, endangering unsophisticated investors, critics say.
From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2026
Burnham's Everton have a link to Stake.com, a crypto casino without a licence to operate in the UK.
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
“After university I went straight to work as a crypto math researcher at the Doughnut,” she said.
From "City Spies" by James Ponti
However, 80,000 bitcoins sit untouched in a now famous crypto- wallet address starting with '1Feex'.
From BBC ● Mar. 1, 2024
Block, the payments company led by Jack Dorsey, the founder of Twitter, has long been a crypto- backer.
From BBC ● Mar. 1, 2024
Tomorrow’s crypto- and blockchain-enhanced internet may achieve the same for value.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 5, 2022
That’s part of the reason for the crypto- prefix that shows up on words like “cryptocurrency.”
From The Verge ● Sep. 9, 2021
Her obsessive pursuit of a crypto- archaeological item is solidly in the “Raiders” playbook as well.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 14, 2018
The world’s largest crypto by total market capitalization did get some good news as investor Cathie Wood’s ARK funds continued to bet big on stocks exposed to cryptos.
From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026
Shares of Strategy jump in premarket trading, while Bitcoin and other cryptos also gain.
From Barron's ● Jun. 8, 2026
Few corners of the market have captured the rebound as clearly as cryptos.
From Barron's ● Apr. 22, 2026
Higher energy prices, linked to fighting in the Middle East, have weighed on the global economy—and risk assets like cryptos more generally.
From Barron's ● Apr. 15, 2026
There’s no direct link between cryptos and the war, but the geopolitical uncertainty has sapped demand for all sorts of risk assets.
From Barron's ● Apr. 14, 2026
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
