cryptolect

cryp·to·lect
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UK/ˈkɹɪptə(ʊ)lɛkt/US/ˈkɹɪptəˌlɛkt/

noun

A secretive language form used by a subculture; an arcane cant.

“Cockney rhyming slang developed originally from the cryptolects of London’s thieves and vagabonds.”

Similar
antilanguageargotcant
First used 1980sScrabble 19
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Meanings

nouncryptolect (plural cryptolects)

plural cryptolects

  1. human sciencesA secretive language form used by a subculture; an arcane cant.First known use 1980s

    Cockney rhyming slang developed originally from the cryptolects of London’s thieves and vagabonds.

    Synonyms: antilanguage, argot, cant

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA secretive language form used by a subculture; an arcane cant.

Similar
antilanguageargotcant

Origin

From crypto- (prefix ‘hidden; secret’) + -lect (suffix denoting a language variety).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan criptolecte
  • criptolectesecretive language form used by a subculture — see also cant
Dutch geheimtaal
  • geheimtaalsecretive language form used by a subculture — see also cant
Esperanto kriptolekto, kaŝlingvo
  • kriptolektosecretive language form used by a subculture — see also cant
  • kaŝlingvosecretive language form used by a subculture — see also cant
  • sekreta lingvosecretive language form used by a subculture — see also cant
Finnish salakieli
  • salakielisecretive language form used by a subculture — see also cant
French cryptolecte
  • cryptolectesecretive language form used by a subculture — see also cant
German Geheimsprache
  • Geheimsprachesecretive language form used by a subculture — see also cant
Hebrew שפת סתרים
  • שפת סתריםsecretive language form used by a subculture — see also cant
Japanese 符牒
  • 符牒 (fuchō)secretive language form used by a subculture — see also cant
Korean 변말
  • 변말 (byeonmal)secretive language form used by a subculture — see also cant
Norwegian Bokmål kryptolekt, skjulespråk
  • kryptolektsecretive language form used by a subculture — see also cant
  • skjulespråksecretive language form used by a subculture — see also cant
Persian زبان رمزی
  • زبان رمزیsecretive language form used by a subculture — see also cant
Portuguese criptoleto, argot
  • criptoletosecretive language form used by a subculture — see also cant
  • argotsecretive language form used by a subculture — see also cant
  • língua secretasecretive language form used by a subculture — see also cant
Romanian limbaj secret
  • limbaj secretsecretive language form used by a subculture — see also cant
Russian арго́
  • арго́ (argó)secretive language form used by a subculture — see also cant
Swedish kodspråk
  • kodspråksecretive language form used by a subculture — see also cant
Ukrainian криптоле́кт, арго́
  • криптоле́кт (kryptolékt)secretive language form used by a subculture — see also cant
  • арго́ (arhó)secretive language form used by a subculture — see also cant
  • кант (kant)secretive language form used by a subculture — see also cant
Cite this entry
APA

cryptolect. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cryptolect

MLA

“cryptolect.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cryptolect. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cryptolect,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cryptolect.

Source: cryptolect on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.