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.
“They’re starting to go long crypto. The institutional buyers are coming in.”
From MarketWatch • May 7, 2026
“Do not store your crypto with me, because it is not your crypto. It is my crypto.”
From The Verge • May 24, 2022
He later tweeted, "Dogecoin is the people's crypto." and "I am become meme, Destroyer of shorts."
From Reuters • Nov. 8, 2021
David Gerard, author of Attack of the 50 Foot Blockchain, told the BBC: "This is just applying existing rules to crypto. This has been coming since 2019."
From BBC • Jul. 20, 2021
"But, I'm not sure it's the best use of Tesla's resources to get involved in crypto. We're really just trying to accelerate the advent of sustainable energy, and it's like, quite energy intensive."
From Reuters • May 13, 2021
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.
