Word Ladder
Puzzle chain — transform one word into another by changing one letter at a time, each rung a valid word.
What is Word Ladder?
Word Ladder is a word puzzle invented by Lewis Carroll (Charles Dodgson) in 1877 as 'Doublets'. The puzzle starts with two words of the same length; the solver must transform the first word into the second by changing exactly one letter per step, with every intermediate word being a valid dictionary word (COLD → CORD → CARD → WARD → WARM). Carroll set them for his nieces; today they appear in newspapers, brain-training apps and the Guardian's daily crossword page.
Quick facts
Category
Puzzle Games
Type
Individual
Players
1–6
Where played
both
Country of origin
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Estimated origin
1877, Lewis Carroll (Charles Dodgson) — invented as 'Doublets' for his nieces
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional