Definition of "cryptanalysis" [crypt•a•nal•y•sis]

• The analysis and deciphering of cryptographic writings or systems. (noun)
• The study of techniques for deciphering cryptographic writings or systems. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "If so, then cryptanalysis is deep within the orthodox paradigm."
• "As he explained it to me, checkbook cryptanalysis is where you pay someone in the target organization to give you the keys."
• "Black bag cryptanalysis is where you break in and steal the code key, or (as in the case of Mr. Scarfo) plant a bug that makes more sophisticated codebreaking unnecessary."