decipher

verb

de·​ci·​pher dē-ˈsī-fər 

deciphered; deciphering; deciphers

transitive verb

1

: decode sense 1a

decipher a secret message

2

obsolete : depict

… with her majesty's name deciphered in gold letters …

—Jonathan Swift

3

a

: to make out the meaning of despite indistinctness or obscurity

trying to decipher her handwriting

b

: to interpret the meaning of

decipher the poem

decipherable

dē-ˈsī-f(ə-)rə-bəl 

adjective

decipherer

dē-ˈsī-fər-ər 

noun

decipherment

dē-ˈsī-fər-mənt 

noun

Synonyms of decipher

• crack
• translate
• break
• decode
• solve
• decrypt

Examples of decipher in a Sentence

I couldn't decipher his sloppy handwriting.

we deciphered the hidden message to find out when we were supposed to meet

Recent Examples on the Web

Whether Nike can bring back that ‘just do it’ energy will decipher its future and the caliber of athletes in its stable. — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026

Come early to mingle with the cast, in character, of course, who may or may not need your help in deciphering some puzzles. — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Romanoff sacrifices herself to retrieve the soul stone, and Nebula involuntarily connects with her past self—a connection used by a past Thanos to decipher the Avengers’ plan. — Michael McDonough, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Sep. 2026

But a more apt comparison might be the Mirabilia Urbis Romae, in which Medieval scholars deciphered the staggering ruins of Classical Rome. — Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1545, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for decipher

• cipher
• cypher
• fifer
• heifer
• pfeiffer

Kids Definition

decipher

verb

de·​ci·​pher di-ˈsī-fər 

1

: to convert into understandable form

especially : decode

2

: to make out the meaning of despite lack of clearness

decipher sloppy handwriting

decipherable

-f(ə-)rə-bəl 

adjective

decipherment

-fər-mənt 

noun