blockchain
8 synonyms and 1 antonyms for blockchain, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A shared digital record of transactions that many computers hold copies of, where new entries can be added but earlier ones cannot be quietly changed or removed.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
A shared digital record of transactions that many computers hold copies of, where new entries can be added but earlier ones cannot be quietly changed or removed.
“Every transfer is written to the blockchain, so anyone can look it up later.”
Opposites
2. noun
One particular network of this kind, with its own rules and its own copy of the records.
“The token exists on a different blockchain from the one her wallet supports.”
3. adjective
Relating to, built on, or making use of such a record.
“They are piloting a blockchain system for tracking coffee shipments.”
How to Use Blockchain
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Neutral and technical, though it became a marketing buzzword in the late 2010s and is sometimes used loosely for any shared database.
Etymology
A compound of block and chain, from the way records are grouped into blocks that are each linked to the one before, forming a chain.
Full origin of blockchain →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a blockchain and a normal database?
A normal database usually sits with one organisation, which can edit or delete rows at will. A blockchain is copied across many independent computers that must agree before anything is added, and older entries are chained together so altering one would visibly break the rest.
Is a blockchain the same as a cryptocurrency?
No. A blockchain is the record-keeping system; a cryptocurrency is a kind of digital money whose balances are recorded on one. A blockchain can just as easily hold records of documents, votes or shipments.
Can anything on a blockchain be deleted?
On a typical public blockchain, entries are append-only: new records are added rather than old ones edited, and the chained structure makes past entries very difficult to alter once many computers have accepted them. Private or permissioned systems may set different rules.