cryptanalysis

[ krip-tuh-nal-uh-sis ]

noun

1. the procedures, processes, methods, etc., used to translate or interpret secret writings, as codes and ciphers, for which the key is unknown.
2. the science or study of such procedures. Compare cryptography ( def 1 ).

cryptanalysis

/ ˌkrɪptænəˈlɪtɪk; ˌkrɪptəˈnælɪsɪs /

noun

1. the study of codes and ciphers; cryptography

Derived Forms

• cryptanalytic, adjective
• cryptˈanalyst, noun

Other Words From

• crypt·an·a·lyt·ic [krip-tan-l-, it, -ik], adjective
• cryptan·a·lyti·cal·ly adverb
• crypt·an·a·lyst [krip-, tan, -l-ist], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cryptanalysis¹

An Americanism dating back to 1920–25; crypt(ogram) + analysis

Word History and Origins

Origin of cryptanalysis¹

C20: from cryptograph + analysis

Example Sentences

The NSA’s new director was in favor of the new policy, taking the hard line that “All official cryptanalysis is a type of activity that should be protected no matter how old it has become.”

From Literature

In the secret world of cryptanalysis, Meredith Gardner had earned a reputation as something of an oddball superstar.

From Literature

The officer who encrypted the message, following normal procedure, added at the end those three random words as “padding” to complicate enemy cryptanalysis.

From Washington Post

Though Hidden Markov models may seem abstract, they have found uses in many areas, including speech recognition, bioinformatics, and cryptanalysis.

From Salon

Likewise, the United Kingdom hired more than 7,000 women to work at Bletchley Park, its centre for cryptanalysis, where they made up about three-quarters of the workforce.

From Nature