encryption

noun

en·​cryp·​tion in-ˈkrip-shən How to pronounce encryption (audio)
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
… a hacker slips into a system, then puts encryption controls in place that locks users out.Elizabeth Millard
2
: a code or cipher produced by encrypting something
Artificial intelligence can decode encryptions that previously could not be cracked.Ana Swanson

Examples of encryption in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) strives to provide encryption algorithms that are resilient to quantum attacks. Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025 Several years ago, researchers found a radically new approach to encryption that lacks this potential weak spot. Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 25 July 2025 For true privacy, look for a VPN that does not keep logs, uses strong encryption, and offers high-speed servers. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 July 2025 Anonymity, international operations, encryption, and sophisticated malware are all factors that make busting cyber-attack groups near impossible. India Brown, Robb Report, 24 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for encryption

Word History

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of encryption was in 1953

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Cite this Entry

“Encryption.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/encryption. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.

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