encryption
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the act of changing information into a secret code to keep it safe.
the process of encoding information so that only authorised parties can access it. Uncountable in this general sense.
Simple“The app uses strong encryption to protect your private messages from hackers.”
In context“Modern banking relies on end-to-end encryption to ensure that sensitive financial data remains secure during transmission across public networks.”
UsageOften used with the preposition 'of' when describing the data being protected.
Teacher's tipLearners often confuse this with 'coding'; explain that encryption specifically implies security and secrecy.
SynonymsencodingcipheringAntonymsdecryption - 02 C1 Advanced
a piece of information that has already been turned into a secret code.
a specific instance of ciphertext or an encrypted value. Often used with 'of' followed by the original value.
Simple“The computer displayed a long encryption of the original password.”
In context“The researcher analysed the encryption of the intercepted signal, looking for patterns that might reveal the underlying algorithm.”
UsageCan be used as a countable noun when referring to specific instances of encoded strings.
SynonymsciphertextcryptogramAntonymsplaintext
From encrypt + -ion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.