cryptography definition | Dictionary.com

cryp⋅tog⋅ra⋅phy

[krip-tog-ruh-fee]

–noun

1.	the science or study of the techniques of secret writing, esp. code and cipher systems, methods, and the like. Compare cryptanalysis (def. 2).

2.	the procedures, processes, methods, etc., of making and using secret writing, as codes or ciphers.

3.	anything written in a secret code, cipher, or the like.

Origin:
1635–45; crypto- + -graphy

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

cryp·tog·ra·phy (krĭp-tŏg'rə-fē) Pronunciation Key
n.

The process or skill of communicating in or deciphering secret writings or ciphers.
Secret writing.

cryp'to·graph'ic (-tə-grāf'ĭk) adj., cryp'to·graph'i·cal·ly adv.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

cryptography
noun
1.	the science of analyzing and deciphering codes and ciphers and cryptograms [syn: cryptanalysis]
2.	act of writing in code or cipher

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
cryptography

The science of coding and decoding messages so as to keep these messages secure. Coding (see encryption) takes place using a key that ideally is known only by the sender and intended recipient of the message.

Note: Historically used in warfare, cryptography is now used routinely in computer networks. This often pits the desire of individuals and businesses to keep Internet information private against the need of government to investigate crime and terrorism.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Free On-line Dictionary of Computing - Cite This Source - Share This

cryptography cryptography
The practise and study of encryption and decryption - encoding data so that it can only be decoded by specific individuals. A system for encrypting and decrypting data is a cryptosystem. These usually involve an algorithm for combining the original data ("plaintext") with one or more "keys" - numbers or strings of characters known only to the sender and/or recipient. The resulting output is known as "ciphertext".
The security of a cryptosystem usually depends on the secrecy of (some of) the keys rather than with the supposed secrecy of the algorithm. A strong cryptosystem has a large range of possible keys so that it is not possible to just try all possible keys (a "brute force" approach). A strong cryptosystem will produce ciphertext which appears random to all standard statistical tests. A strong cryptosystem will resist all known previous methods for breaking codes ("cryptanalysis").
See also cryptology, public-key encryption, RSA.
Usenet newsgroups: sci.crypt, sci.crypt.research.
FAQ MIT.
Cryptography glossary.
RSA cryptography glossary.
Cryptography, PGP, and Your Privacy.
(2000-01-16)