cryptography

cryp·tog·ra·phy

noun \krip-ˈtä-grə-fē\

Definition of CRYPTOGRAPHY

1

: secret writing

2

: the enciphering and deciphering of messages in secret code or cipher; also : the computerized encoding and decoding of information

3

: cryptanalysis

Examples of CRYPTOGRAPHY

1. Companies often use cryptography to protect private information.

Origin of CRYPTOGRAPHY

New Latin cryptographia, from crypt- + -graphia -graphy

First Known Use: 1658

Rhymes with CRYPTOGRAPHY

autography, cacography, cartography, chorography, chronography, cosmography, demography, discography, ethnography, filmography, geography, holography, lithography, lymphography, mammography, mythography, nomography, orthography, phonography, photography, pictography, planography, pornography, reprography, sonography, stenography, thermography, tomography, topography, typography, venography, xerography, xylography

cryptography

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Practice of the enciphering and deciphering of messages in secret code in order to render them unintelligible to all but the intended receiver. Cryptography may also refer to the art of cryptanalysis, by which cryptographic codes are broken. Collectively, the science of secure and secret communications, involving both cryptography and cryptanalysis, is known as cryptology. The principles of cryptography are today applied to the encryption of fax, television, and computer network communications. In particular, the secure exchange of computer data is of great importance to banking, government, and commercial communications. See also data encryption.