Alternative forms

• cheatcode

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

  (file)

  Category:English terms with audio pronunciation#CHEATCODE

Noun

cheat code (plural cheat codes)Category:English lemmas#CHEATCODECategory:English nouns#CHEATCODECategory:English countable nouns#CHEATCODECategory:English multiword terms#CHEATCODECategory:English entries with incorrect language header#CHEATCODECategory:Pages with entries#CHEAT%20CODECategory:Pages with 1 entry#CHEAT%20CODE

1. (video gamesCategory:en:Video games#CHEATCODE) A line of text or series of commands which can be used to change a game's behavior, alter a character's looks and abilities, skip levels, or access other hidden features.
   • 2023, “Practice”, in Water Made Us, performed by Jamila Woods ft. Saba:

     Got more patience than a tree grow / Got love that feels like a cheat code

     Category:English terms with quotations#CHEATCODE

2. (figurative) A way to accomplish something that bypasses some of the usual hard work; shortcut, lifehack, or advantage.
   • 2017, Lilly Singh, How to Be a Bawse, A Guide to Conquering Life:

     Once you discover all the ins and outs of your mind, you basically have the cheat code to your game of life.

     Category:English terms with quotations#CHEATCODE

   • 2021, Luvvie Ajayi Jones, “Trust Where You Are”, in The Fear-Fighter Manual: Lessons from a Professional Troublemaker, London: Quercus Editions Ltd, →ISBN:

     How did the other folks make it? It’s not necessarily because they’re smarter. It’s not automatically that they know more than I do. It’s not because they’re more clever. It’s that they found the cheat codes or knew somebody who knew somebody.

     Category:English terms with quotations#CHEATCODE

   • 2021, Suzie Lavington, Andy Cope, A Girl’s Guide to Being Fearless: How to Find Your Brave, Chichester, West Sussex: Capstone, Wiley, →ISBN, back cover:

     This gem of a book is a gathering of life’s cheat codes, put together with girls in mind.

     Category:English terms with quotations#CHEATCODE

   • 2024, Alisha Chandran, “Global Agreements – A Game of Diplomacy”, in Beyond the Forecast: The Science, Impact, and Opportunity of Our Climate Crisis, [Bradford, West Yorkshire]: Ethics International Press Ltd, →ISBN, page 73:

     Global agreements also focus on technology sharing—think of it as countries passing around the best cheat codes for fighting climate change.

     Category:English terms with quotations#CHEATCODE

Further reading

• “cheat code”, in Cambridge English Dictionary, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Cambridge University Press, 1999–present.