# sudoku

/suˈdoʊku/ (US) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sudoku
Updated: 2026-09-28

## Definition

a popular logic puzzle where you fill a grid with numbers. You must place the numbers 1 to 9 so that each one appears only once in every row, column, and small square.

For teachers: a logic-based, combinatorial number-placement puzzle. The objective is to fill a 9×9 grid with digits so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3×3 subgrids contains all of the digits from 1 to 9.

## Examples

- I like to solve a sudoku puzzle while I drink my morning coffee.
- The newspaper publishes a new sudoku every morning, ranging in difficulty from easy to expert.
- While many people assume sudoku requires advanced math skills, it is actually a game of pure logic and pattern recognition that relies on the process of elimination.

## Usage notes

- Typically countable when referring to a specific puzzle; uncountable when referring to the game itself.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.