Decipher
To convert a coded text into plain language; to interpret or understand something that is not immediately clear.
verbDecipher
To convert a coded text into plain language; to interpret or understand something that is not immediately clear.
verbImagine This
Imagine finding a secret diary written in a strange code. You study the symbols, note by note, and decipher the message: it reveals a hidden map and a warning.
Sounds Like
dee-SY-fer
Looks Like
Looks like 'decode' or 'cipher'—a blend of de- (undo) and cipher (code).
Remember This
Decipher comes from Latin decifrare, de- + cifra (cipher); it can refer to decoding a message or interpreting unclear handwriting or ideas.
Other Forms
Connect With
decode, interpret, unravel, solve, translate
Note
Use decipher for decoding codes or understanding unclear writing or meaning. Do not confuse with 'decrypt' in all contexts, though both mean to uncover meaning; 'decrypt' is often used for cryptographic codes, while 'decipher' can be broader.