Alphameric

/ˌælfəˈmɛrɪk/ adjective

Definition

Containing or using both letters and numbers, though sometimes fewer numerals than alphanumeric.

Etymology

From alpha (representing letters) + -meric (from Greek meris, part, meaning composed of parts). It's an older variant of alphanumeric, created in the early computing era when programmers needed words for mixed letter-number systems.

Kelly Says

Alphameric and alphanumeric emerged at almost the same time in 1950s computer science, but alphanumeric won out and became standard—a good reminder that even in technical fields, the 'first' word isn't always the one that survives.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.