Enigma

/ɪˈnɪɡ.mə/

Meaning & Definition

noun

a person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand.

The disappearance of the ancient civilization remains an enigma for historians.

a riddle or a person or thing that is puzzling or inexplicable.

Her motives were an enigma, leaving everyone confused about her true intentions.

a cryptic message or a mysterious statement.

The detective was faced with an enigma that would test his skills.

From the Latin 'aenigma', from the Greek 'ainigma', meaning 'riddle'.

an enigma wrapped in a riddle

A complex or obscure situation or person.

figure out the enigma

To solve or understand a puzzling situation.

mystery

Something that is difficult or impossible to understand or explain.

puzzle

A game, toy, or problem designed to test ingenuity or knowledge.