encrypt

[en-kript]

verb (used with object)

1. to convert (a message or the like) into cipher or code.

   The letter was encrypted before being mailed to protect it from any prying eyes.

2. Computers.,  to change (digital data) into a form that cannot be read without converting it back using a unique key.

   The protocol encrypts all of your personal information, including credit card number, name, and address, so that it cannot be stolen.

encrypt

/ ɪnˈkrɪpt /

verb

1. to put (a message) into code

2. to put (computer data) into a coded form

3. to distort (a television or other signal) so that it cannot be understood without the appropriate decryption equipment

encrypt

1. To alter information using a code or mathematical algorithm so as to be unintelligible to unauthorized readers.

Other Word Forms

• encryption noun
• encryptation noun
• encrypted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of encrypt¹

First recorded in 1940–45; en- ¹ + -crypt (abstracted from cryptic ( def. ), cryptography ( def. ), etc.), modeled on encode ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of encrypt¹

C20: from _en- ¹ + crypt, as in _crypto-

Example Sentences

Both are end-to-end encrypted messaging services for sending texts or multimedia.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The stock market was just another encrypted transmission — meaningless statics hiding meaningful patterns.

Read more on MarketWatch

NSO says its products can be used by government agencies to fight terrorism and crime by allowing them access to encrypted messaging systems such as WhatsApp.

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Her personal criteria for victory is to scare the Russians enough that they won’t attack again: “I want this fear to be encrypted in their DNA for as many generations as possible.”

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Nations are known to be already stealing encrypted data from each other with a view to being able to decode it one day.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• encipher