Seed Phrase

idiom

Meaning

A list of words used to recover access to a crypto wallet.

Origin

disputed origin

Seed implies the source from which everything grows.

Examples

SIMPLE

Write your seed phrase on paper and keep it offline.

CONTEXTUAL

He restored his wallet on a new laptop using the twelve-word seed phrase.

COMPLEX

Anyone who reads your seed phrase can rebuild the entire wallet, which is why a hardware wallet never shows it on an internet-connected screen.

Last updated July 19, 2026