sudoku

American  

[soo-doh-koo] / sʊˈdoʊ ku /

noun

1. a puzzle printed on a square grid of nine large squares each subdivided into nine smaller squares, the object of which is to fill in each of the 81 squares so that each column, row, and large square contains every number from 1 to 9.

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sudoku British  

/ səˈdəʊkuː /

noun

1. a type of puzzle in which numbers must be arranɡed within a ɡrid contaninɡ several internal squares so that no number is repeated in the same row, column, or internal square

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Etymology

Origin of sudoku

2000–05; < Japanese sū- (< sūji number) + -doku (< dokushin being single)

Example Sentences

Waiting for a concert to begin, she’ll chip away at crosswords, sudoku grids and the New York Times' Spelling Bee to keep her nerves at bay.

From BBC • Oct. 9, 2024

For her, it’s doing number puzzles like sudoku.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 14, 2024

Much like crosswords and sudoku have become prevalent in part because of newspaper syndication, Gage thinks that Knotwords could follow a similar pattern.

From The Verge • Apr. 25, 2022

Harris also enjoys playing the mini New York Times crossword and sudoku.

From Salon • Apr. 19, 2022

He called it the hardest sudoku ever made, with only 23 of the 81 squares filled in at the start.

From "The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl" by Stacy McAnulty