Cryptic

Cryptic is an English adjective used to describe something that is hidden, mysterious, or obscure. The word derives from Latin crypticus and Greek kryptikos, both meaning hidden or concealed. In common usage, a cryptic statement or clue is difficult to interpret and may require inference, decoding, or insight beyond the obvious.

In puzzle culture, cryptic clues are a defining feature of cryptic crosswords, a form especially popular in the United Kingdom. Each clue typically contains a definition and a wordplay component, and the surface reading is often deliberately misleading. Wordplay devices commonly employed include anagrams, homophones, deletions, reversals, container indicators, hidden words, and charades, among others. Solvers must identify both the direct meaning and the intended wordplay to arrive at the answer.

In literature and media, the term cryptic is used to describe passages, statements, or symbols that resist straightforward interpretation, inviting readers to deduce deeper or multiple layers of meaning. Cryptic writing may rely on allusion, ambiguity, or compressed syntax to create a sense of mystery.

The adjective also appears in everyday language to characterize clues or messages that are intentionally puzzling or encoded. While often used informally, the sense remains tied to concealment, mystery, or a hidden layer of meaning.