Standard Lemma guide

encipher

verb · 2 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

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To convert plain text into cipher.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: encode, encrypt

Antonyms: decode, decipher, decrypt

2

verb

Meaning 2

convert ordinary language into code

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • We should encode the message for security reasons

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: code, cipher, cypher, encrypt, inscribe, write in code

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: encode

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h1én Proto-Italic *en Proto-Italic *en- Latin in- Old French en-bor. Middle English en- English en- English cipher English encipher From en- + cipher.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Czech: zašifrovat — to encrypt
  • Finnish: salakirjoittaa — to encrypt
  • Icelandic: dulrita — to encrypt
  • Polish: zaszyfrować — to encrypt
  • Swedish: kryptera — to encrypt
  • Swedish: chiffrera — to encrypt