Standard Lemma guide

crypto-

prefix · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American: /kɹɪptoʊ-/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

prefix

Meaning 1

Hidden, invisible.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • crypto- + crystalline → cryptocrystalline (“whose crystalline nature only becomes apparent at high levels of magnification”)
  • crypto- + zoology → cryptozoology (“the study of animals whose existence has not been proven”)

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

prefix

Meaning 2

Secret.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • crypto- + fascist → cryptofascist
  • crypto- + -lect → cryptolect (“a secret language”)

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

prefix

Meaning 3

Relating to cryptography, the study of secret communication.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • crypto- + function → cryptofunction
  • crypto- + variable → cryptovariable

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

prefix

Meaning 4

Cryptocurrency.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • crypto- + asset → cryptoasset
  • crypto- + collectible → cryptocollectible

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Ancient Greek κρῠ́πτω (krŭ́ptō) Ancient Greek κρῠπτός (krŭptós)der. English crypto- Derived from Ancient Greek κρῠπτός (krŭptós, “hidden, secret”).

Across languages

Translations

35 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Afrikaans: kripto- — Translations
  • Basque: kripto- — Translations
  • Bulgarian: крипто- (kripto-) — Translations
  • Catalan: cripto- — Translations
  • Czech: krypto- — Translations
  • Danish: krypto- — Translations
  • Dutch: crypto- — Translations
  • Estonian: krüpto- — Translations
  • Finnish: krypto- — Translations
  • French: crypto- — Translations
  • Galician: cripto- — Translations
  • Georgian: კრიპტო- (ḳriṗṭo-) — Translations
  • German: krypto- — Translations
  • Greek: κρυπτο- (krypto-) — Translations
  • Hindi: गुप्त (gupt) — Translations
  • Hungarian: kripto- — Translations
  • Italian: cripto- — Translations
  • Japanese: 隠れ (kakure) — Translations
  • Northern Kurdish: krîpto- — Translations
  • Latvian: kripto- — Translations
  • Lithuanian: kripto- — Translations
  • Norwegian: krypto- — Translations
  • Occitan: cripto- — Translations
  • Polish: krypto- — Translations
  • Portuguese: cripto- — Translations
  • Romanian: cripto- — Translations
  • Russian: крипто- (kripto-) — Translations
  • Serbo-Croatian: крипто- — Translations
  • Sicilian: crittu- — Translations
  • Slovak: krypto- — Translations
  • Slovene: kripto- — Translations
  • Spanish: cripto- — Translations
  • Swedish: krypto- — Translations
  • Swedish: lönn- — Translations
  • Ukrainian: крипто- (krypto-) — Translations