Word
decryption
Phoneticsde·cryp·tion
UK/dɪkɹˈɪpʃən/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. turning secret coded text back into normal text you can read. You need a key or password to do it, like when you open a secure message.
n. conversion of encrypted data or ciphertext back into readable plaintext, typically using a key or algorithm.
Examples
“Decryption turns the secret message back into normal words.”
“After downloading the secure file, she enters her password and the decryption takes only a few seconds.”
“The journalist relied on expert decryption of the leaked archive to recover readable documents from thousands of encrypted files.”
Examples
simple
“Decryption turns the secret message back into normal words.”
contextual
“After downloading the secure file, she enters her password and the decryption takes only a few seconds.”
complex
“The journalist relied on expert decryption of the leaked archive to recover readable documents from thousands of encrypted files.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “decryption” in context.
Verb
01. attempt decryption
“Investigators attempted decryption of the seized hard drive.”
verb + noun
02. decryption fails
“Decryption fails if you enter the wrong recovery password.”
noun + verb
03. decryption succeeds
“Decryption succeeds only with the correct private key.”
noun + verb
04. enable decryption
“This update enables decryption of older file formats.”
verb + noun
05. perform decryption
“Analysts performed decryption of the intercepted signal within hours.”
verb + noun
Adjective
06. automatic decryption
“The app offers automatic decryption of incoming secure messages.”
adj + noun
07. complete decryption
“Engineers confirmed complete decryption of the archived files.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. decryption algorithm
“The team updated the decryption algorithm to improve security.”
noun + noun
09. decryption key
“Keep your decryption key in a safe offline location.”
noun + noun
10. decryption process
“The decryption process takes only a few seconds on modern phones.”
noun + noun
11. decryption fails without key
“Decryption fails without the correct key or recovery phrase.”
12. enable automatic decryption
“The settings enable automatic decryption of all incoming emails.”
Real-World Examples
“The attackers identified as Brain Cipher asked for $8 million in ransom to unlock the data before later apologising and releasing the decryption key for free, according to Singapore-based cybersecurity firm StealthMole.” “The notion of eventually combining transcription and decryption in one step could be a game-changer for unlocking the roughly 1% of archival material that’s still coded.” “The decryption of the content of the memory of the navigation controller of the drones carried out by specialists of Russia's special services confirms without question that the target of the attack was the complex of buildings of the Russian president's residence in Novgorod region," Kostyukov said.” “The module is a tamper-resistant device that provides a secure environment for certain functions, such as encryption and decryption, to occur.” Etymology
Verbal noun of decrypt, from de- + crypt (only attested in compounds, such as cryptogram) from Ancient Greek κρυπτός (kruptós, “hidden”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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