decipher

American  

[dih-sahy-fer] / dɪˈsaɪ fər /

verb (used with object)

1. to make out the meaning of (poor or partially obliterated writing, etc.).

   to decipher a hastily scribbled note.

2. to discover the meaning of (anything obscure or difficult to trace or understand).

   to decipher hieroglyphics.

   Synonyms:

   explain, unravel, solve, comprehend

3. to interpret by the use of a key, as something written in cipher.

   to decipher a secret message.

4. Obsolete. to depict; portray.

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decipher British  

/ dɪˈsaɪfə /

verb

1. to determine the meaning of (something obscure or illegible)

2. to convert from code into plain text; decode

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Other Word Forms

• decipherability noun
• decipherable adjective
• decipherer noun
• decipherment noun
• undecipherable adjective
• undecipherably adverb
• undeciphered adjective

Etymology

Origin of decipher

First recorded in 1520–30; translation of Middle French déchiffrer; equivalent to de- + cipher

Explanation

Decipher means translate from code, or more generally, figure out. If you can’t decipher your teacher's writing, it means you can't read it. You might feel like you're being asked to decipher a code. During World War II, the Nazis used a machine called the Enigma to encode secret messages. An operator would type the message with a keyboard, which would activate a set of rotors, giving each letter a different value. The code was difficult for the Allies to crack, but eventually the code was deciphered by the British, hastening the end of the war.

Example Sentences

Kandasamy, who runs Mahjong Palace, said there’s a “neuro connective” element to mahjong, and if you’re “taking three seconds to decipher this new Hello Kitty-holding-something on the tile,” that’s precious time lost.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

Wall Street is trying to decipher who the software winners and losers will be as artificial intelligence capabilities ramp up.

From Barron's • Mar. 16, 2026

Carmel-by-the-Sea has long had its own dispatch center, with workers trained to decipher people’s descriptions of where they live, former Police Chief Paul Tomasi told The Times in 2024.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 22, 2026

That said, economists and central bankers have an ongoing intellectual debate to decipher whether AI is indeed the reason for the rise in productivity.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 7, 2026

‘What does the writing say?’ asked Frodo, who was trying to decipher the inscription on the arch.

From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien

Related Words

• analyze
• break down
• decode
• deduce
• elucidate
• interpret
• solve
• translate
• unravel