verb
obfuscate
OB-fuh-skayt
Obfuscate (verb) means to make something unclear or hard to understand, usually on purpose and in order to hide the truth. Example: “The report obfuscates the losses by burying them in an appendix.”
verb
1
To make something unclear or hard to understand, usually on purpose and in order to hide the truth.
"The report obfuscates the losses by burying them in an appendix."
"Stop obfuscating and tell us what the fee actually is."
2
technical In computing, to rewrite code or data so that it still works but is very difficult for a human to read, typically to protect it from copying or analysis.
"The JavaScript is minified and obfuscated before release."
How to use obfuscate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo make something confusing on purpose so people cannot see what is really going on.
When to use it
Formal, and usually critical: accusing someone of obfuscating is an accusation of bad faith.
Memory tip
The object is usually an abstraction — the issue, the facts, the truth — rather than a physical thing.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
obfuscate the issue
deliberately obfuscate
obfuscated code
obfuscate the truth
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like obfuscate.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The report _____ the losses by burying them in an appendix.
Etymology
From Latin obfuscare "to darken", from ob- "over" and fuscus "dark, dusky".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for obfuscate
See all rhymes for obfuscate →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between obfuscate and obscure?
Obscure can be accidental and is often a state as well as an act — fog obscures a view. Obfuscate almost always implies deliberate effort to confuse, usually with words, and carries a clear note of blame.
How do you pronounce obfuscate?
OB-fuh-skayt, with the stress on the first syllable, and the f and s sounded separately. The noun is obfuscation, ob-fuh-SKAY-shuhn.
What does obfuscated code mean?
It is working source code that has been deliberately made unreadable — variable names replaced with meaningless strings, structure flattened — so that people cannot easily study or copy it. The computer runs it exactly as before; only human readers are affected.
What is the meaning of obfuscate?
"obfuscate" (verb) means to make something unclear or hard to understand, usually on purpose and in order to hide the truth.
