If you describe something or someone as an enigma, you mean they are mysterious or difficult to understand.
Iran remains an enigma for the outside world.
...a story which makes clear the modern enigma of spirituality.
Synonyms: mystery, problem, puzzle, riddle More Synonyms of enigma
enigma in British English
(ɪˈnɪɡmə)
noun
a person, thing, or situation that is mysterious, puzzling, or ambiguous
Derived forms
enigmatic (ˌɛnɪɡˈmætɪk) or enigmatical (ˌenigˈmatical)
adjective
enigmatically (ˌenigˈmatically)
adverb
Word origin
C16: from Latin aenigma, from Greek ainigma, from ainissesthai to speak in riddles, from ainos fable, story
Enigma in British English
noun
a machine invented before World War II but used primarily during that conflict by the German military to encrypt messages; the early successes of Polish cryptanalysts in deciphering Enigma codes was built upon by their British counterparts later at Bletchley Park
enigma in American English
(ɪˈnɪgmə; ɛˈnɪgmə)
noun
1.
a perplexing, usually ambiguous, statement; riddle
2.
a perplexing, baffling, or seemingly inexplicable matter, person, etc.
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈmystery
Word origin
L aenigma < Gr ainigma < ainissesthai, to speak in riddles < ainos, tale, story < ? IE base *ai-, oi-, meaningful speech > ? MIr ōeth, oath
Examples of 'enigma' in a sentence
enigma
The origin is a mystery wrapped in an enigma.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The mechanics of the game itself are a riddle wrapped in an enigma inside a mystery.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
So much for the enigma wrapped in the riddle.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
She is an enigma wrapped in a riddle trapped in a really bad haircut.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
But economics is still a mystery wrapped in an enigma.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Not much mystery or enigma there.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Not much - they are still a mystery inside a riddle wrapped in an enigma.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
As a theatre maker, you have to be drawn to mystery and enigma.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The issue is a mystery, wrapped in an enigma, shrouded in an acronym.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Sure, he is a mystery, an enigma.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In other languages
enigma
British English: enigma NOUN
If you describe something or someone as an enigma, you mean they are mysterious or difficult to understand.
There have been whole books written about him, and still he remains an enigma.
American English: enigma
Brazilian Portuguese: enigma
Chinese: 难解之谜
European Spanish: enigma
French: énigme
German: Rätsel
Italian: enigma
Japanese: なぞ
Korean: 수수께끼
European Portuguese: enigma
Latin American Spanish: enigma
(noun)
Definition
something or someone that is mysterious or puzzling
This country remains an enigma for the outside world.
Synonyms
mystery
The source of the crying remained a mystery.
problem
a mathematical problem
puzzle
the puzzle of why there are no Stone Age cave paintings in Britain
riddle
a riddle of modern architecture
paradox
Death is a paradox, the end yet the beginning.
conundrum
It was a conundrum with no solution.
teaser
Additional synonyms
in the sense of conundrum
Definition
a puzzling question or problem
It was a conundrum with no solution.
Synonyms
puzzle,
problem,
riddle,
enigma,
teaser,
poser,
brain-teaser (informal)
in the sense of paradox
Definition
a person or thing that is made up of contradictory elements