Obfuscation: meaning, definitions and examples

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obfuscation

 

[ əˌbʌfsˈkeɪʃ(ə)n ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

data security

The action of making something obscure, unclear, or unintelligible. In the context of data security, obfuscation refers to the practice of intentionally making data difficult to understand or interpret, often used to protect sensitive information from unauthorized access.

Synonyms

confusion, mystification, obscurity

Examples of usage

  • Obfuscation techniques are commonly used in software development to protect code from reverse engineering.
  • Email addresses can be obfuscated to prevent them from being harvested by spammers.
Context #2 | Noun

language

The deliberate use of ambiguity or evasion of meaning in language. It can also refer to the practice of obscuring the intended meaning of communication, often to deceive or confuse.

Synonyms

equivocation, evasion, prevarication

Examples of usage

  • The politician's obfuscation of the issue left the audience unsure of his true intentions.
  • Her obfuscation of the facts made it difficult for others to understand the situation.
Context #3 | Noun

general

The act of obscuring or confusing something to make it difficult to understand. It can be intentional or unintentional, and is often used to hide information or complicate a situation.

Synonyms

confusion, muddling, obscuration

Examples of usage

  • The obfuscation of the terms and conditions made it hard for consumers to know what they were agreeing to.
  • His obfuscation of the truth only served to further complicate the investigation.

Translations

Translations of the word "obfuscation" in other languages:

🇵🇹 ofuscação

🇮🇳 विलक्षणता

🇩🇪 Verschleierung

🇮🇩 pengaburan

🇺🇦 заплутування

🇵🇱 zaciemnianie

🇯🇵 混乱

🇫🇷 obscurcissement

🇪🇸 ofuscación

🇹🇷 karartma

🇰🇷 난독화

🇸🇦 تشويش

🇨🇿 zmatení

🇸🇰 zmätenie

🇨🇳 混淆

🇸🇮 zmeda

🇮🇸 ruglingur

🇰🇿 шыңырау

🇬🇪 დაბნევა

🇦🇿 qarışdırma

🇲🇽 ofuscación

Etymology

The term 'obfuscation' originated from the Latin word 'obfuscare', which means 'to darken' or 'to obscure'. It has been used in various contexts over the years, from data security to language and communication. The concept of obfuscation has evolved with the increasing need for privacy and security in the digital age, leading to its widespread use in fields such as cryptography and software development.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #31,989 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.