We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website. By continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time. Find out more

Subscriber login

Library card login

Other

X Close menu

Dictionary Language resources

sudoku

Pronunciation: /suːˈdəʊkuː, -ˈdɒ-/

Translate sudoku | into French | into Italian

Definition of sudoku

noun

a puzzle in which players insert the numbers one to nine into a grid consisting of nine squares subdivided into a further nine smaller squares in such a way that every number appears once in each horizontal line, vertical line, and square.

Origin:

early 21st century: from Japanese sūdoku, from sū(ji) 'number' + doku(shin) 'single status' after sūji wa dokushin ni kagiru, literally 'the numbers are restricted to single status', former name of the puzzle