an·a·gram
ˈa-nə-ˌgram 
1
: a word or phrase made by transposing the letters of another word or phrase
The word "secure" is an anagram of "rescue."
2
anagrams plural in form but singular in construction
: a game in which words are formed by rearranging the letters of other words or by arranging letters taken (as from a stock of cards or blocks) at random
anagrammed; anagramming
1
: anagrammatize
anagrammed the letters of "battle" to form "tablet"
2
: to rearrange (the letters of a text) in order to discover a hidden message
Examples of anagram in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Fans also wanted the name to be immediately understandable (compared to BOS Nation, which was an anagram of Bostonian) and withstand the test of time, and fans wanted to make sure the team respected the existing Boston women’s pro sports teams, such as the Boston Fleet of the PWHL.
—Meg Linehan, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
Suerynn Lee, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2024
Every time someone joins (several people a week) the Devs commence to anagram the newbie’s name in every which way but the real one — sometimes dozens.
—Washington Post, 13 Feb. 2020
See All Example Sentences for anagram
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Outside the installation, collages and cut-outs feature the anagram LOVE/VOLE along with objects and animals drawn in the style of a contemporary toile de Jouy.
—Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Fans also wanted the name to be immediately understandable (compared to BOS Nation, which was an anagram of Bostonian) and withstand the test of time, and fans wanted to make sure the team respected the existing Boston women’s pro sports teams, such as the Boston Fleet of the PWHL.
—Meg Linehan, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
Verb
To decipher her code, translate the picture (or pictures) on each card into two words, then anagram the letters to spell out one of the dishes depicted on the right.
—Suerynn Lee, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2024
Every time someone joins (several people a week) the Devs commence to anagram the newbie’s name in every which way but the real one — sometimes dozens.
—Washington Post, 13 Feb. 2020
See All Example Sentences for anagram
Cite this Entry
“Anagram.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anagram. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share