enigma

[ uh-nig-muh ]

noun

, plural e·nig·mas; Chiefly Archaic e·nig·ma·ta [uh, -, nig, -m, uh, -t, uh].

1. a puzzling or inexplicable occurrence or situation:

   His disappearance is an enigma that has given rise to much speculation.

   Synonyms: problem

2. a person of puzzling or contradictory character:

   To me he has always been an enigma, one minute completely insensitive, the next moved to tears.

3. a saying, question, picture, etc., containing a hidden meaning; riddle.
4. (initial capital letter) a German-built enciphering machine developed for commercial use in the early 1920s and later adapted and appropriated by German and other Axis powers for military use through World War II.

enigma

/ ˌɛnɪɡˈmætɪk; ɪˈnɪɡmə /

noun

1. a person, thing, or situation that is mysterious, puzzling, or ambiguous

Derived Forms

• enigmatic, adjective
• ˌenigˈmatically, adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of enigma¹

First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin aenigma, from Greek aínigma, equivalent to ainik- (stem of ainíssesthai “to speak in riddles,” derivative of aînos fable) + -ma noun suffix of result

Word History and Origins

Origin of enigma¹

C16: from Latin aenigma, from Greek ainigma, from ainissesthai to speak in riddles, from ainos fable, story

Synonym Study

See puzzle.

Example Sentences

However, there are still many enigmas about the molecular mechanisms that would explain the anomalies that make the water molecule unique.

From Science Daily

Described by some as an “enigma”, Mrs Trump has preferred to be less public than her predecessors, giving fewer speeches both in the White House and on the campaign trail.

From BBC

For all his hate, misogyny and political lies, I have to admit, I am fascinated by Vance and the enigma he is.

From Salon

Yet, time and again over the past few decades, Rekha has proved that the air of enigma surrounding her has only left audiences wanting more.

From BBC

Under the rules, the finder has to show that they correctly solved the enigmas and did not just stumble upon the owl by chance.

From BBC

Related Words

• conundrum
• puzzle

More About Enigma

What does enigma mean?

An enigma is someone or something that’s puzzling, mysterious, or difficult to make sense of.

The word enigma can also mean a riddle, but it’s more often used to refer to something that’s so perplexing that it seems like a riddle (and perhaps was intended to seem like one), as in That book is an enigma—I have no idea what it’s really about. 

If you call a person an enigma, you mean that they’re hard to figure out—the reasons behind what they say and do are not easily understood. Some people try to be enigmas to be mysterious.

The adjective enigmatic can be used to describe someone or something that’s puzzling or mysterious.

Example: I’ve known him for years, but he’s still a total enigma to me—I have no idea what his interests are or what he’s really like.

Where does enigma come from?

The first records of the word enigma come from the 1500s. It comes from the Greek ainíssesthai, meaning “to speak in riddles,” from ainos, meaning “fable” or “story.”

A much more specific use of the word is as the name of a ciphering machine used by the German military during World War II. A precursor to computer encryption, the Enigma machine was used to encode messages into a seemingly random string of letters to be decoded by another Enigma machine set up the same way. The deciphering of the Enigma code by Alan Turing and a team of codebreakers allowed the Allies to secretly read intercepted German messages and is thought to be a major factor in the Allied victory.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to enigma?

• enigmatic (adjective)

What are some synonyms for enigma?

• riddle
• cipher
• puzzle
• conundrum

What are some words that share a root or word element with enigma? 

• enigmatize

What are some words that often get used in discussing enigma?

• perplexing
• puzzling
• mysterious
• machine
• code
• inscrutable
• strange
• problem

How is enigma used in real life?

When a situation or problem is called an enigma, it’s one that’s confusing or difficult to understand, like a riddle. When a person is called an enigma, it usually means that they’re hard to know.

Human history is quite an enigma. We know so little, and much of what we think we know seems to be highly questionable.

— occultbot (@occultb0t) June 11, 2020

Diego Costa is an enigma. Looks 50, acts 15, is actually 26.

— Futhead (@Futhead) September 19, 2015

Mastering a #CV can be quite an enigma & these are some mistakes you're probably making! #jobhunting #career #advice https://t.co/MFjnGHZdbC pic.twitter.com/3bdJ95uASn

— James Caan CBE (@jamescaan) October 17, 2016

 

Try using enigma!

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of enigma?

A. cipher
B. answer
C. puzzle
D. riddle