encrypt
/ɪnˈkrɪpt/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To turn information into a code so that only people with the right key can read it. People encrypt files, messages, and data to protect privacy or security.
- Please encrypt the file before sending it.
- The app encrypts your messages automatically.
- Banks encrypt customer data for safety.
Adinary Nuance
Encrypt is more specific than hide or lock. You use it when information is changed into code, usually for digital security. It is not the same as encode, which can mean putting something into a different form, not always for protection. In formal or technical writing, encrypt is the clearest word when secrecy and security matter.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- mã hóa
- Spanish
- encriptar
- Chinese
- 加密
- Japanese
- 暗号化する
- Korean
- 암호화하다
Etymology
Encrypt comes from the late Latin word cryptare, meaning “hide.” It entered English through French in the 17th century, with the idea of hiding information in code.
Common phrases
encrypt a fileencrypt dataencrypt messagesend-to-end encryption
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is encrypt the same as encode?
- No. Encrypt means to protect information with code. Encode can mean changing form, even without security.
- Is encrypt a formal word?
- Yes, it is common in technical, academic, and business writing.
- What is the opposite of encrypt?
- The opposite is decrypt, which means to turn coded information back into readable form.
- Can I say encrypt a message?
- Yes. That is a very natural and common use.