enigma

[uh-nig-muh]

noun

plural

enigmas ,

plural

enigmata .

1. a puzzling or inexplicable occurrence or situation.

   His disappearance is an enigma that has given rise to much speculation.

   Synonyms: problem

2. a person of puzzling or contradictory character.

   To me he has always been an enigma, one minute completely insensitive, the next moved to tears.

3. a saying, question, picture, etc., containing a hidden meaning; riddle.

4. (initial capital letter),  a German-built enciphering machine developed for commercial use in the early 1920s and later adapted and appropriated by German and other Axis powers for military use through World War II.

enigma

/ ˌɛnɪɡˈmætɪk, ɪˈnɪɡmə /

noun

1. a person, thing, or situation that is mysterious, puzzling, or ambiguous

Other Word Forms

• enigmatic adjective
• enigmatically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of enigma¹

First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin aenigma, from Greek aínigma, equivalent to ainik- (stem of ainíssesthai “to speak in riddles,” derivative of aînos fable) + -ma noun suffix of result

Word History and Origins

Origin of enigma¹

C16: from Latin aenigma, from Greek ainigma, from ainissesthai to speak in riddles, from ainos fable, story

Synonym Study

See puzzle.

Example Sentences

Born Melanija Knavs in Slovenia, the 55-year-old first lady and former fashion model was, for a time, often described as an "enigma" - less public than her predecessors, with fewer speeches and public engagements.

From BBC

The Dodgers are an enigma, capable of winning critical games and losing to beatable opponents.

From Los Angeles Times

Olsen: But is it challenging with this show in particular — how do you play to the enigma?

From Los Angeles Times

Two years ago, before the Eaton fire would change my life and his, I met Sydney —half German shepherd, half Great Pyrenees and enigma with a capital E.

From Los Angeles Times

It reportedly contained a joking reference that "enigmas never age" and allegedly ended with the words: "A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday - and may every day be another wonderful secret."

From BBC

Related Words

• conundrum 
• puzzle 

When To Use

What does enigma mean?

An enigma is someone or something that’s puzzling, mysterious, or difficult to make sense of.The word enigma can also mean a riddle, but it’s more often used to refer to something that’s so perplexing that it seems like a riddle (and perhaps was intended to seem like one), as in That book is an enigma—I have no idea what it’s really about. If you call a person an enigma, you mean that they’re hard to figure out—the reasons behind what they say and do are not easily understood. Some people try to be enigmas to be mysterious.The adjective enigmatic can be used to describe someone or something that’s puzzling or mysterious.Example: I’ve known him for years, but he’s still a total enigma to me—I have no idea what his interests are or what he’s really like.