sudoku

noun

su·do·ku sü-ˈdō-kü

: a puzzle in which missing numbers are to be filled into a 9 by 9 grid of squares which are subdivided into 3 by 3 boxes so that every row, every column, and every box contains the numbers 1 through 9

Examples of sudoku in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Bitcoin mining remains a lightning rod of controversy in crypto—a physical manifestation of the otherwise digital sector that guzzles energy at the magnitude of medium-size countries in order to, as detractors love to say, solve a glorified sudoku. —

Byleo Schwartz, Fortune Crypto, 31 May 2023 Tyson's fingers are shaking from the cold, and he's shocked when Danny finishes the sudoku first and moves on. —

Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 15 Sep. 2022 Scroll a little further down for links to daily crossword puzzles, sudoku and word games. —

Joe Mutascio, The Indianapolis Star, 10 Jan. 2023 Sarah finally arrives at the sudoku and actually solves it. —

Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 15 Sep. 2022 The study went so far as to say those who do puzzles like sudoku have brain function that is equal to 10 years younger than their actual age. —

Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 13 Aug. 2022 The pressure is on Devin now, and since the second puzzle is another sudoku involving quick math, Emanuel asks for help from the other players … and Tori and Kaycee actually give him tips. —

Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 9 Dec. 2021 In 2004, after a fan from New Zealand got a sudoku published in the Times of London, a global craze was born. —

Chieko Tsuneoka, WSJ, 20 Aug. 2021 Free online games Get our free daily crossword puzzle, sudoku, word search and arcade games in our new game center at latimes.com/games. OPINION — Newsom has been the leader California needs during coronavirus. —

Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2020 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sudoku.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Japanese sūdoku, short for sūji wa dokushin ni kagiru "the numerals must remain single" (i.e., the digits can occur only once)

First Known Use

2000, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of sudoku was in 2000

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Sudoku.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sudoku. Accessed 1 Dec. 2023.

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Kids Definition

sudoku

noun

su·do·ku

sü-ˈdō-kü

: a puzzle in which several numbers are to be filled into a 9x9 grid of squares so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9

Etymology

from Japanese sūdoku, short for sūji wa dokushin ni kagiru "the numbers must remain single" (i.e., the digits can occur only once)