encryption
noun
en·cryp·tion
in-ˈkrip-shən
en-
plural encryptions
1
: the act or process of encrypting something : a conversion of something (such as data) into a code or cipher
The regulations … make it harder to provide automatic encryption of information as it passes through the dozens of links in a typical Internet connection …—Paul Wallich
… a hacker slips into a system, then puts encryption controls in place that locks users out.—Elizabeth Millard
2
: a code or cipher produced by encrypting something
Artificial intelligence can decode encryptions that previously could not be cracked.—Ana Swanson
Cite this Entry
“Encryption.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/encryption. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.
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