crypto
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.digital money like Bitcoin that is not controlled by a central bank.
n.an informal clipping of cryptocurrency, referring to digital or virtual currencies underpinned by cryptographic systems.
Simple“He lost a lot of money when the price of crypto crashed last year.”
In context“The volatility of crypto has led many traditional investors to remain cautious despite the potential for high returns in decentralized finance.”
Synonymscryptocurrencydigital currencyAntonymsfiat currency - 02 C1 Advanced
n.the study or use of secret codes to protect information.
n.an informal clipping of cryptography, referring to the practice and study of techniques for secure communication.
Simple“She is an expert in crypto and works for a cybersecurity firm.”
In context“Advances in quantum computing pose a significant theoretical threat to current crypto standards used to secure global financial transactions.”
Synonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
n.a short name for certain types of germs or the illnesses they cause.
n.an informal clipping for various medical conditions or pathogens, most commonly Cryptosporidium or Cryptococcus.
Simple“The doctor ordered a test to see if the patient had crypto.”
In context“The public health department issued a warning after several cases of crypto were linked to the local swimming complex.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
adj.describing someone who keeps their true political or religious beliefs a secret.
adj.denoting a person who secretly supports a particular party, doctrine, or religion while appearing to be neutral or opposed.
Simple“The journalist was accused of being a crypto-communist during the election.”
In context“The historian argued that the senator was a crypto-monarchist who sought to undermine democratic institutions from within.”
UsageOften used as a prefix in compound words like 'crypto-fascist'.
Usage crypto billionaire
“HMRC said the new powers would force "crypto bros to pay their fair share of tax" when the rules were announced last year.”
All senses trace back to clippings of words derived from the prefix crypto-, developed at various times in the 20th and 21st centuries. During the 2010s and 2020s, the "cryptocurrency" sense has become the dominant sense. The "cryptography" sense predates that one; thus, a computer or math geek in earlier decades would be referring to cryptography when using this word. The "secret supporter or follower" sense is clipped from such terms as cryptofascist and cryptocommunist. The several informal senses in medicine referring to several microbe genera or the diseases they cause have existed since circa the mid-20th century.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.