Alphanumeric

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˌæl.fə.n(j)uːˈmɛ.ɹɪk/

Definitions

1. Comprising both letters and digits, this type of character set is often employed in coding systems and databases for identification purposes
2. This character set, which includes both alphabetic and numeric characters, is frequently used in creating passwords and digital identifiers
3. Consisting of a mix of letters and numbers, this character type is commonly utilized in various computational applications and data entry processes

Etymology: "Alphanumeric" is a plain compound with no dramatic backstory: it joins "alpha", from the first two letters of the Greek alphabet (alpha and beta, themselves borrowed from Phoenician names for the first letters), with "numeric", meaning relating to numbers. The alphabet's name traces back through Greek "alphabetos" to the first two letters of the Greek alphabet. "Numeric" comes from Latin "numerus", meaning number, joined to the suffix "-icus", which passed into English through Old French and Middle French. The word "alphanumeric" was formed in English by combining the two parts, describing a character set that mixes letters and digits.

Synonyms: numeric, letter-number, alphanumeric character