What does anagram mean?
An anagram is a word or phrase created by rearranging all the letters of another word or phrase, with every letter used exactly once. Classic examples include turning 'listen' into 'silent' or 'dormitory' into 'dirty room'. The word also refers to puzzles built on this principle, common in crosswords, newspapers, and word games, where solvers must unscramble jumbled letters to find the hidden term. Anagrams have a long cultural history: they have been used for pseudonyms, for concealing discoveries before publication, and for playful or satirical commentary, since a well-crafted anagram can seem to reveal a hidden meaning in its source. The adjective form 'anagrammatic' describes anything relating to anagrams. Because constructing a true anagram requires skill and patience, the word often carries a connotation of ingenuity and verbal wit. It is a familiar term to anyone interested in language, cryptography, or recreational wordplay.
nounA word or phrase formed by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase, using each letter exactly once; the act of forming such a rearrangement is also called making an anagram.
- A word or phrase formed by rearranging all the letters of another word or phrase.
- A puzzle in which such a rearrangement must be discovered.
"The letters of 'listen' can be rearranged into the anagram 'silent'."
"'Dormitory' and 'dirty room' form a well-known anagram pair."
"She solved the crossword's anagram clue in under a minute."
Standard plural; used when referring to multiple anagram pairs or a collection of anagram puzzles.
"The puzzle book contains hundreds of anagrams arranged by difficulty."
Anagrams were once believed to reveal hidden truths — in the 17th century, scientists like Galileo published discoveries as anagrams to claim credit without revealing their work prematurely.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of anagram
Anagram comes from the Greek 'anagrammatismos', formed from 'ana-' (meaning 'back' or 'again') and 'gramma' (meaning 'letter'), so it literally suggests the transposing of letters. The word entered English via Latin and French in the early modern period, becoming established by the seventeenth century. It shares the Greek root 'gramma' with words such as 'cryptogram', 'epigram', and 'telegram', all of which involve written letters or characters.
Related word forms
How anagram is actually used
Anagram is a neutral, standard word used in both everyday and formal contexts. It appears frequently in puzzles, word games, and discussions of literature. The verb sense ('to anagram' something) exists but is rare; speakers more commonly say 'make' or 'form' an anagram.
Easily confused with anagram
A palindrome reads the same forwards and backwards (e.g. 'level'), whereas an anagram is a rearrangement of a word's letters into a different word or phrase.