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Definition of conundrum

conundrum

/kəˈnʌn.drəm/
co · nun · drum
Plural:conundrums
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conundrum Lexical Profile

conundrum Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A confusing and difficult problem or question that has no easy solution.

Example

"The city council faced the difficult conundrum of expanding public transit without raising local taxes."

2

A question asked for amusement, typically one with a pun in its answer; a riddle.

Example

"During the long road trip, the children entertained themselves by trading clever conundrums and jokes."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

controversially
controversy
contusion
conundrum
conure
convalesce
convalescence

Word Origin & Etymology

Originating in the late 16th century as university slang, possibly at Oxford, it initially functioned as a mock-Latin term for a pedant or a whim before evolving to mean a punning riddle and eventually any difficult problem.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Conundrum. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/conundrum
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