crypto
/ˈkɹɪptəʊ/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: cryptos
Sense 1
Meaning · English
A secret supporter or follower.
Noun
Examples
Martin of course is far too dishonest to be outright a crypto or fellow-traveller, but his main influence is pro-Russian and is certainly intended to be so, and I feel reasonably sure he would quislingise in the case of a Russian occupation, if he had not managed to get away on the last plane.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
Secret or covert.
Adjective
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “crypto” mean?
A secret supporter or follower.
Is “crypto” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.