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Definition of sudoku

sudoku

/suːˈdoʊ.kuː/
su · do · ku
Plural:sudokus
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sudoku Lexical Profile

sudoku Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A logic-based number-placement puzzle in which a 9x9 grid, subdivided into nine 3x3 boxes, must be filled so that each row, column, and box contains every digit from 1 to 9 exactly once.

Example

"She likes to solve the daily sudoku in the morning newspaper while drinking her coffee."

• Rhymes for sudoku

• Nearby Words

suddenly
suddenness
sudetes
sudoku
suds
sudsy
sue

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Japanese 'sūdoku', an abbreviation of 'sūji wa dokushin ni kagiru', which translates literally as 'the digits must remain single'. The modern puzzle was originally designed by American architect Howard Garns in 1979 as 'Number Place' before being popularized and renamed in Japan in the 1980s.

Cite this Entry

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