Puzzle Terminology Glossary
Comprehensive dictionary of 500+ puzzle terms, jargon, and techniques
Puzzle Terminology Dictionary
Welcome to the internet's most comprehensive glossary of puzzle terminology. Whether you're a beginner looking to understand basic terms or an expert wanting to reference advanced techniques, our dictionary covers the full spectrum of puzzle language.
This glossary includes terms from all major puzzle types including crosswords, sudoku, word games, and logic puzzles. Many entries include illustrations to help visualize concepts, especially for complex solving techniques.
Alphabetical Glossary
Browse all puzzle terms organized alphabetically
A
- Across
- Crossword
In a crossword puzzle, clues for answers that read from left to right horizontally in the grid. Usually listed separately from Down clues and identified by numbers corresponding to the grid.
- Anagram
- Word Game
A word or phrase formed by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase, using all the original letters exactly once. Anagrams are common in word puzzles and are often indicated in cryptic crossword clues by words suggesting rearrangement.
Example Illustration[Example illustration for Anagram]
B
- Backtracking
- Sudoku
A solving technique, particularly in Sudoku, where you make a guess, follow it to its logical conclusion, and if it leads to a contradiction, return to the guessing point and try a different option.
- Bilocational Clue
- Crossword
A crossword clue that can apply to two different entries in the grid, often used to add difficulty. Solvers must use crossing entries to determine which answer goes where.
- Block
- Crossword
In American-style crossword puzzles, the black squares that separate words or phrases in the grid. Also known as black squares.
- Box
- Sudoku
In Sudoku, one of the nine 3×3 regions that must contain the digits 1 through 9. Also called a region, block, or nonent.
Example Illustration[Example illustration for Box]
C
- Candidate
- Sudoku
In Sudoku and similar logic puzzles, a possible value that could go in a cell based on the current state of the puzzle. Candidates are eliminated through solving techniques until only one possibility remains.
- Cell
- General
A single square in a puzzle grid. In Sudoku, each cell must be filled with a digit from 1 to 9. In crosswords, each cell typically contains a single letter.
- Check Digit
- Sudoku
In a Sudoku puzzle, a digit that is already filled in when the puzzle is presented to the solver. Also called a "given."
- Clue
- General
A hint or direction given to solve a puzzle. In crosswords, clues are provided for each across and down entry. In logic puzzles, clues provide relationships or constraints that must be satisfied.
- Cryptic Crossword
- Crossword
A style of crossword popular in the UK and Commonwealth countries where each clue is a puzzle in itself, typically containing a straight definition and wordplay component that both lead to the same answer.
D
- Digit
- Sudoku
In Sudoku and other number puzzles, the numerical symbols (typically 1-9) used to fill the cells according to the puzzle rules.
- Down
- Crossword
In a crossword puzzle, clues for answers that read from top to bottom vertically in the grid. Listed separately from Across clues and identified by numbers corresponding to the grid.
E
- Elimination
- General
A solving technique whereby certain possibilities are ruled out based on existing puzzle constraints, narrowing down potential solutions until only one remains.
F
- Fill
- Crossword
In crossword puzzles, the words and phrases that are entered into the grid. Good quality puzzles have "clean fill" with minimal obscure words or abbreviations.
G
No terms beginning with this letter
H
I
No terms beginning with this letter
J
- Jumble
- Word Game
A word puzzle that involves unscrambling anagrams to form words, then using highlighted letters from those words to solve a final phrase or punchline.
K
No terms beginning with this letter
L
No terms beginning with this letter
M
No terms beginning with this letter
N
- Naked Pair
- Sudoku
A Sudoku solving technique where two cells in the same row, column, or box contain exactly the same two candidate numbers and no others. These candidates can be eliminated from other cells in the same unit.
Example Illustration[Example illustration for Naked Pair] - Naked Single
- Sudoku
The most basic Sudoku solving technique where a cell has only one possible candidate remaining, making it the solution for that cell.
O
No terms beginning with this letter
P
- Pangram
- Word Game
A word or sentence that uses every letter of the alphabet at least once. Some word puzzles specifically require finding pangrams.
- Pencil Marking
- Sudoku
A Sudoku technique where solvers write small candidate numbers in cells to track possible values. Also called notation or candidate marking.
Example Illustration[Example illustration for Pencil Marking]
Q
No terms beginning with this letter
R
- Rebus
- Crossword
In crossword puzzles, a square that contains multiple letters, symbols, or even a small image rather than a single letter. Used to create phrases or words that wouldn't otherwise fit conventional entry patterns.
- Revealing
- General
The act of showing the correct answer for a puzzle entry when stuck. Many digital puzzle interfaces offer a "reveal" feature to help solvers learn or progress past difficult sections.
S
- Swordfish
- Sudoku
An advanced Sudoku solving technique that extends the X-Wing pattern to three rows/columns and three candidate positions, allowing elimination of candidates from other cells.
Example Illustration[Example illustration for Swordfish]
T
- Themed Puzzle
- Crossword
A crossword puzzle that contains multiple related entries connected by a common theme, often revealed by one of the longer entries.
- Themeless
- Crossword
A crossword puzzle with no unifying theme among its entries, typically focusing instead on high-quality fill and interesting long entries.
U
No terms beginning with this letter
V
No terms beginning with this letter
W
No terms beginning with this letter
X
- X-Wing
- Sudoku
An advanced Sudoku solving technique where a candidate appears exactly twice in each of two different rows, and these candidates align in the same columns. This allows elimination of this candidate from other cells in those columns.
Example Illustration[Example illustration for X-Wing]
Y
No terms beginning with this letter
Z
No terms beginning with this letter
Crossword Puzzle Terms
Terminology specific to crossword puzzles
- Across
- In a crossword puzzle, clues for answers that read from left to right horizontally in the grid. Usually listed separately from Down clues and identified by numbers corresponding to the grid.
- Bilocational Clue
- A crossword clue that can apply to two different entries in the grid, often used to add difficulty. Solvers must use crossing entries to determine which answer goes where.
- Block
- In American-style crossword puzzles, the black squares that separate words or phrases in the grid. Also known as black squares.
- Cryptic Crossword
- A style of crossword popular in the UK and Commonwealth countries where each clue is a puzzle in itself, typically containing a straight definition and wordplay component that both lead to the same answer.
- Down
- In a crossword puzzle, clues for answers that read from top to bottom vertically in the grid. Listed separately from Across clues and identified by numbers corresponding to the grid.
- Fill
- In crossword puzzles, the words and phrases that are entered into the grid. Good quality puzzles have "clean fill" with minimal obscure words or abbreviations.
- Rebus
- In crossword puzzles, a square that contains multiple letters, symbols, or even a small image rather than a single letter. Used to create phrases or words that wouldn't otherwise fit conventional entry patterns.
- Themeless
- A crossword puzzle with no unifying theme among its entries, typically focusing instead on high-quality fill and interesting long entries.
- Themed Puzzle
- A crossword puzzle that contains multiple related entries connected by a common theme, often revealed by one of the longer entries.
Sudoku Puzzle Terms
Terminology specific to sudoku puzzles
- Backtracking
- A solving technique, particularly in Sudoku, where you make a guess, follow it to its logical conclusion, and if it leads to a contradiction, return to the guessing point and try a different option.
- Box
- In Sudoku, one of the nine 3×3 regions that must contain the digits 1 through 9. Also called a region, block, or nonent.
- Candidate
- In Sudoku and similar logic puzzles, a possible value that could go in a cell based on the current state of the puzzle. Candidates are eliminated through solving techniques until only one possibility remains.
- Check Digit
- In a Sudoku puzzle, a digit that is already filled in when the puzzle is presented to the solver. Also called a "given."
- Digit
- In Sudoku and other number puzzles, the numerical symbols (typically 1-9) used to fill the cells according to the puzzle rules.
- Hidden Single
- A basic Sudoku solving technique where a digit can only appear in one cell within a row, column, or box, even though that cell may have multiple candidates.
- Naked Pair
- A Sudoku solving technique where two cells in the same row, column, or box contain exactly the same two candidate numbers and no others. These candidates can be eliminated from other cells in the same unit.
- Naked Single
- The most basic Sudoku solving technique where a cell has only one possible candidate remaining, making it the solution for that cell.
- Pencil Marking
- A Sudoku technique where solvers write small candidate numbers in cells to track possible values. Also called notation or candidate marking.
- Swordfish
- An advanced Sudoku solving technique that extends the X-Wing pattern to three rows/columns and three candidate positions, allowing elimination of candidates from other cells.
- X-Wing
- An advanced Sudoku solving technique where a candidate appears exactly twice in each of two different rows, and these candidates align in the same columns. This allows elimination of this candidate from other cells in those columns.
Word Game Terms
Terminology for word games like Scrabble, Wordle, and more
- Anagram
- A word or phrase formed by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase, using all the original letters exactly once. Anagrams are common in word puzzles and are often indicated in cryptic crossword clues by words suggesting rearrangement.
- Jumble
- A word puzzle that involves unscrambling anagrams to form words, then using highlighted letters from those words to solve a final phrase or punchline.
- Pangram
- A word or sentence that uses every letter of the alphabet at least once. Some word puzzles specifically require finding pangrams.
Logic Puzzle Terms
Terminology for logic puzzles and brain teasers
General Puzzle Terms
Common terminology used across different types of puzzles
- Cell
- A single square in a puzzle grid. In Sudoku, each cell must be filled with a digit from 1 to 9. In crosswords, each cell typically contains a single letter.
- Clue
- A hint or direction given to solve a puzzle. In crosswords, clues are provided for each across and down entry. In logic puzzles, clues provide relationships or constraints that must be satisfied.
- Elimination
- A solving technique whereby certain possibilities are ruled out based on existing puzzle constraints, narrowing down potential solutions until only one remains.
- Revealing
- The act of showing the correct answer for a puzzle entry when stuck. Many digital puzzle interfaces offer a "reveal" feature to help solvers learn or progress past difficult sections.