encryption
noun
en·cryp·tion
in-ˈkrip-shən 
en-
plural encryptions
1
: the act or process of encrypting something : a conversion of something (such as data) into a code or cipher
The regulations … make it harder to provide automatic encryption of information as it passes through the dozens of links in a typical Internet connection …—
Paul Wallich
Paul Wallich… a hacker slips into a system, then puts encryption controls in place that locks users out.—Elizabeth Millard
Elizabeth Millard2
: a code or cipher produced by encrypting something
Artificial intelligence can decode encryptions that previously could not be cracked.—Ana Swanson
Ana SwansonExamples of encryption in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Quantum threats target the mathematical structure of encryption schemes like RSA and ECC; vaulted tokenization removes that target by decoupling data from its representation.
—Ed Leavens, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Instagram now has access to all users' direct message content and will only offer standard encryption.
—Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
According to a company website, messages people share with Meta AI may be used by the social media company to improve its AI models, but personal chats on WhatsApp remain protected by end-to-end encryption and are not accessible for that purpose.
—Katie Paul, USA Today, 13 May 2026
WhatsApp already supports end-to-end encryption, meaning not even its developer, Meta, can view your chats.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for encryption
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Ed Leavens, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Instagram now has access to all users' direct message content and will only offer standard encryption.
—Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
According to a company website, messages people share with Meta AI may be used by the social media company to improve its AI models, but personal chats on WhatsApp remain protected by end-to-end encryption and are not accessible for that purpose.
—Katie Paul, USA Today, 13 May 2026
WhatsApp already supports end-to-end encryption, meaning not even its developer, Meta, can view your chats.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for encryption
Cite this Entry
“Encryption.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/encryption. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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