noun Uncommon

cipher

SEYE-fuh

Cipher (noun) means a system for turning readable text into a secret, scrambled form; more loosely, a secret code. Example: “The spy sent messages written in a simple cipher.”

noun

A system for turning readable text into a secret, scrambled form; more loosely, a secret code.

"The spy sent messages written in a simple cipher."

"Historians finally cracked the general's wartime cipher."

A person or thing regarded as having no real importance or influence.

"Without real authority, the new manager was just a cipher."

verb

To convert a message into a secret code.

"The clerk ciphered the report before sending it."

How to Use Cipher

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA secret code for hiding a message, or someone/something with no real substance.

Common mistake

In everyday use "cipher" almost always means a code; the "person of no importance" sense is more literary.

Common pairings

crack a cipher a simple cipher encode in cipher

Word Forms

ciphered past tense, ciphers plural, ciphers singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The spy sent messages written in a simple _____.

Etymology

From Old French cyfre, ultimately from Arabic sifr meaning "zero" or "empty" — the same root that gives us the word "zero" itself.

Origin: Old French

Rhymes for cipher

decipher

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does “cipher” mean?

The word “cipher” means a system for turning readable text into a secret, scrambled form; more loosely, a secret code. In plain terms, a secret code for hiding a message, or someone/something with no real substance.

How do you pronounce “cipher”?

“Cipher” is pronounced SEYE-fuh (/ˈsaɪfɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “cipher” in a sentence?

Here is “cipher” used in a sentence: “The spy sent messages written in a simple cipher.”

What part of speech is “cipher”?

Depending on how it is used, “cipher” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “cipher” come from?

The word “cipher” comes from Old French. From Old French cyfre, ultimately from Arabic sifr meaning "zero" or "empty" — the same root that gives us the word "zero" itself.

Is “cipher” a common word?

“Cipher” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “cipher” have?

“Cipher” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a system for turning readable text into a secret, scrambled form; more loosely, a secret code.