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Meaning & use

encryption

noun·Academiccomputing

Last updated

UK/ɪnˈkrɪpʃən/
US/ɪnˈkrɪpʃən/

Meanings

  1. noununcountablecomputing

    The process of changing information into a secret code so that only people with the right key can read it.

    Grammar: Uncountable; used without 'a' or a plural: The company uses encryption.

    Patterns

    • encryption of something
    • use encryption
    • strong encryption

    The app uses encryption to protect your messages.

    Without encryption, anyone on the same Wi-Fi network could read your data.

    The company added end-to-end encryption to its chat service.

  2. nouncountable or uncountablecomputing

    The coded form of information that has been encrypted.

    Grammar: Can be countable when referring to a specific coded result: an encryption that is hard to break.

    Patterns

    • break an encryption
    • the encryption is unreadable

    The file was saved as an encryption that only the sender could open.

    Modern encryptions are extremely difficult to crack.

Common combinations

data encryption
Data encryption is required for all financial transactions.
encryption key
Keep your encryption key safe, or you will lose access to the files.
end-to-end encryption
The messaging app promises end-to-end encryption for every call.
strong encryption
Strong encryption makes the data almost impossible to read without the password.
encryption software
They installed encryption software on all company laptops.

Synonyms and how they differ

encoding
Encoding changes data into a different format, often for storage or transmission, but it does not necessarily hide the meaning; encryption is specifically for secrecy.
cipher
A cipher is a method or system for secret writing, while encryption is the act or process of applying it.

Opposites

decryption

Word family

encrypt verb
To convert information into a secret code.
encrypted adjective
Describing data that has been converted into code.
decryption noun
The process of turning encrypted data back into its original form.

Commonly confused: encryption or decryption? encryption or encoding?

encryption vs decryption

Decryption is the opposite process: it turns coded information back into normal readable form.

encryption vs encoding

Encoding changes data into a different format (like Base64) but does not keep it secret; anyone can reverse it without a key.

Practice

The company uses strong ______ to keep customer passwords safe.

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