petrification

noun

pet·​ri·​fi·​ca·​tion ˌpe-trə-fə-ˈkā-shən 

: petrifaction

Examples of petrification in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

One wonders at what point a company’s petrification of obsolescence risks becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. — Sloane Crosley, Wired News, 18 Dec. 2025

But Judaism also refuses to equate self-protection with emotional petrification. — Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2026

The result is both visually and scientifically striking—many of the logs maintain their original external form through petrification while the interior structure is lost. — Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Nov. 2022

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Medieval Latin petrificātiōn-, petrificātiō — more at petrifaction

First Known Use

circa 1611, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for petrification

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration

Kids Definition

petrification

noun

pet·​ri·​fi·​ca·​tion ˌpe-trə-fə-ˈkā-shən 

: petrifaction

Medical Definition

petrification

noun

pet·​ri·​fi·​ca·​tion ˌpe-trə-fə-ˈkā-shən 

: petrifaction