adjective
alphanumeric
al-fuh-noo-MER-ik
Alphanumeric (adjective) means Made up of both letters and numbers, and sometimes other keyboard characters. Example: “Your password must be at least eight alphanumeric characters.”
adjective
1
Made up of both letters and numbers, and sometimes other keyboard characters.
"Your password must be at least eight alphanumeric characters."
"Each part carries an alphanumeric code such as X4-2207."
2
Sorted or arranged by letters and numbers together.
"The files are stored in alphanumeric order, so A1 comes before A10."
How to use alphanumeric
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsing both letters and numbers.
When to use it
Neutral, mildly technical. Standard in computing, forms and admin.
Easily confused with
alphanumeric / numeric
alphanumeric / ASCII
Common pairings
alphanumeric characters
alphanumeric password
alphanumeric code
alphanumeric order
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Your password must be at least eight _____ characters.
Etymology
A blend of alphabetic and numeric, from Greek alphabētos and Latin numerus 'number'.
Synonyms
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alphameric
alphanumerical
alphamerical
Rhymes for alphanumeric
See all rhymes for alphanumeric →Frequently asked questions
Do alphanumeric characters include symbols?
Strictly, no — alphanumeric means letters A–Z and digits 0–9 only. Many password forms nevertheless use the word loosely to mean 'letters, numbers and symbols', so read the specific rule the site gives rather than assuming.
What is an alphanumeric password?
It is a password containing at least one letter and at least one digit, rather than letters alone. Most sites also require a mix of upper and lower case, and many add a symbol on top.
How does alphanumeric sorting work?
It orders digits before letters, then goes character by character. That is why A10 sorts before A2 in a plain alphanumeric sort — the 1 is compared with the 2 before anything else is looked at. Natural sorting fixes this by reading whole numbers.
What is the meaning of alphanumeric?
"alphanumeric" (adjective) means made up of both letters and numbers, and sometimes other keyboard characters.
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