Words / B2

i-NIGM-uh/ɪˈnɪɡmə/

An enigma is a person, thing, or situation that is mysterious and hard to explain: an enigma; remains an enigma. Mystery is everyday; riddle is a puzzle with a designed answer; enigmatic is the adjective. Calling a character an enigma is not analysis; quote the contradiction. Mix-up: enigma vs stigma; Enigma as the wartime machine — use that only if the source names the code; do not write enigma for a gap in the data that is only missing, not puzzling.

Meaning

A person, thing, or situation that is mysterious and hard to explain.

Examples

• “Calling a character an enigma is not analysis; quote the contradiction, the literature paper said.”
• “The cause remains an enigma in the case, which is still a named unknown — quote what was ruled out.”

Good to know

an enigma; remains an enigma; enigmatic. Everyday: mystery. Contrast: riddle (has an answer). Trap: stigma / a blank cell / wartime machine unless named. English, history, and science. A living puzzle — quote the contradiction, not the label.

Near in meaning

mystery, puzzle, conundrum

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