encipher

USAGE SUMMARY

'encipher' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to refer to the process of converting plain text into code or cipher text. Example sentence: He used an advanced enciphering algorithm to secure important files.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Those, such as Chinese, that encipher meaning in pitch are called "tonal languages".

The Economist

In the simplest systems of the Vigenère type, the key is a word or phrase that is repeated as many times as required to encipher a message.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Bök wants to encipher his poem "The Xenotext" into a gene which, when implanted into the genome of Deinoccocus radiodurans, will cause the bacterium to produce a protein in response that will then encipher another poem, different but no less meaningful.

The New Yorker

The arrangement contains messages in plain text and code, and all but invites visitors to encipher some of their own.

The New York Times - Science

Practically speaking, this means that poorly resourced individuals and groups with cheap, old computers are able to encipher their messages to an extent that they cannot be deciphered by all the secret police in the world, even if they employ every computer ever built in a gigantic, decades-long project to force the locks off the intercepted message.

The Guardian - Tech

The Lorenz SZ40 machine used to encipher messages on the teleprinter links between Berlin and all the major German military fronts had two sets of five cipher rotors.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

That document key is itself enciphered using recipient's public key.

The Economist

Dr Green and his colleague Kenn White are leading a forensic audit of Truecrypt, a popular program that enciphers a user's hard disks but which displays some odd-looking behaviour and has rather murky origins (it is open-source, but its designers are anonymous, and are thought to live in eastern Europe).Fixing cryptography is only part of the problem.

The Economist

Unlike its cousin, cryptography, which makes no attempt to disguise the existence of a message, but rather hides its meaning, a steganographic message need not be enciphered.

The Economist

Evidence uncovered after the U.S. and British military campaign in Afghanistan indicated that al-Qaeda had purchased sophisticated computer hardware that enabled it to send enciphered communications to terrorist cells and to track U.S. photographic reconnaissance satellites.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In 1470 Leon Battista Alberti published Trattati in cifra ("Treatise on Ciphers"), in which he described the first cipher disk; he prescribed that the setting of the disk should be changed after enciphering three or four words, thus conceiving of the notion of polyalphabeticity.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "encipher", ensure your audience understands that it means to convert plaintext into a coded form. If you're unsure, consider using the more common term "encrypt".

Common error

Avoid using "encipher" interchangeably with terms like "encrypt" or "encode" without understanding the subtle differences. While similar, "encipher" specifically implies converting plain text into a cipher. "Encrypt" and "encode" are more general terms.

Linguistic Context

The verb "encipher" functions as a transitive verb, requiring a direct object (the message or data being converted). Ludwig's examples show it describing the action of converting plain text into a coded form, ensuring secure communication.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Encyclopedias

29%

Science

28%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "encipher" is a verb that means to convert plain text into a cipher or code. While grammatically correct, as affirmed by Ludwig AI, it's less common than its synonym "encrypt". It appears most frequently in news and media, encyclopedias, and scientific contexts, suggesting a somewhat formal register. When writing, consider your audience and whether the more common term "encrypt" would be more easily understood. Remember that although it means converting information, it should not be mistaken for similar terms such as "encode".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

encrypt

This alternative is a more common and widely understood term for converting data into a secure code.

encode

This alternative highlights the conversion of data into a specific format, often for security or transmission.

cipher

This alternative is a direct synonym, though slightly less common in modern usage.

code

This alternative refers to the process of converting a message into a secret or symbolic form.

put into code

This alternative describes the action of transforming information into a coded format.

convert to cipher

This alternative describes the act of transforming plain text into an encrypted format.

write in code

This alternative emphasizes the act of composing a message using a cipher.

scramble

This alternative implies mixing up or distorting information to make it unintelligible.

inscribe

This alternative suggests marking or writing something in a deliberate and often secret manner.

conceal

This alternative highlights the act of hiding information, which is the result of encoding.

FAQs

What does "encipher" mean?

"Encipher" means to convert plain text into a cipher or code, essentially to encrypt a message.

Is "encipher" the same as "encrypt"?

While similar, "encipher" is a more specific term referring to the conversion of plain text into a cipher, whereas "encrypt" is a more general term for encoding information for security. You can consider "encrypt" as a viable alternative in most cases.

How do you use "encipher" in a sentence?

You might say, "The spy used a complex algorithm to "encipher" the secret message."

What are some synonyms for "encipher"?

Synonyms for "encipher" include "encrypt", "code", and "cipher".