anagram

[ an-uh-gram ]

noun

1. a word, phrase, or sentence formed from another by rearranging its letters:

   “Angel” is an anagram of “glean.”

2. anagrams, (used with a singular verb) a game in which the players build words by transposing and, often, adding letters.

verb (used with object)

, an·a·grammed, an·a·gram·ming.

1. to form (the letters of a text) into a secret message by rearranging them.
2. to rearrange (the letters of a text) so as to discover a secret message.

anagram

/ ˈænəˌɡræm; ˌænəɡrəˈmætɪk /

noun

1. a word or phrase the letters of which can be rearranged into another word or phrase

Derived Forms

• ˌanagramˈmatically, adverb
• anagrammatic, adjective

Other Words From

• an·a·gram·mat·ic [an-, uh, -gr, uh, -, mat, -ik], ana·gram·mati·cal adjective
• ana·gram·mati·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of anagram¹

First recorded in 1580–90; probably from Middle French anagramme, from New Latin anagramma; equivalent to ana- + -gram ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of anagram¹

C16: from New Latin anagramma, shortened from Greek anagrammatismos, from anagrammatizein to transpose letters, from ana- + gramma a letter

Example Sentences

Even the band's name is an anagram of the phrase "I'm fearless".

From BBC

These are wild anagrams for a stain on satin, giving material heft to ephemeral language.

From Los Angeles Times

She’s everywhere, all the time, and her name happens to be an anagram of the word raven.

From Los Angeles Times

The theme-and-variations format is enchanting, allowing Sondheim, the great puzzler, to treat songs almost as anagrams.

From New York Times

They used sentences like "ithlium is the lightest of all metals," where the anagram was used to create an "aha" experience.

From Salon