polyalphabetic substitution

[ pol-ee-al-fuh-bet-ik, pol-ee- ]
/ ˈpɒl iˌæl fəˈbɛt ɪk, ˌpɒl i- /

noun Cryptography.

a system of substitution that mixes together a number of cipher alphabets in a cryptogram so that each plaintext letter is represented by a cipher that repeatedly changes.

QUIZZES

CAN YOU FEEL THE WEAL WITH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ?

Did you collect all of last week’s words, but eftsoons forget what they mean? Don’t worry, we’re here to jog your memory. See how many words from the week of May 18 to 24 you can get right!
Question 1 of 7
weal
well-being, prosperity, or happiness.
the intervening time.
a somewhat prolonged, sharp, shrill cry, as of pain, fear, or surprise.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT
Compare monoalphabetic substitution.

Origin of polyalphabetic substitution

1935–40; poly- + alphabetic

Words nearby polyalphabetic substitution

polyadenitis, polyadenopathy, polyadenylic acid, polyadic, polyalcohol, polyalphabetic substitution, polyamide, polyamine, polyamorous, polyamory, polyandric
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020