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sudoku

noun su·do·ku \ sü-ˈdō-kü \

Definition of sudoku

: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

Recent Examples of sudoku from the Web

Manager Joe Girardi said that Bird could still get something out of this camp, even if the most challenging exercise is a sudoku puzzle.

— billy witz, New York Times, "For a Yankees Prospect, Training Camp Involves Part Healing, Part Hope," 26 Feb. 2016
When retested after the prizes were frozen, Varshavsky — who in 2006 had also come under suspicion of cheating at a chess championship — could not solve a sudoku.

— mike selinker, WIRED, "Decoder Ring: Not Your Typical Scrabble Champ," 5 Nov. 2010

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sudoku.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of sudoku

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 2000

See Words from the same year

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