hieroglyph

noun

hi·​ero·​glyph ˈhī-(ə-)rə-ˌglif 

1

: a character used in a system of hieroglyphic writing

2

: something that resembles a hieroglyph

Examples of hieroglyph in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Crucially, these dates correspond to important dynastic events that the hieroglyphs omit — filling in the puzzle pieces scholars had been missing. —Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2025

The same message in hieroglyphs, Demotic and Greek allowed researchers to decode the images as language, but the new discovery is a bit different. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 10 Sep. 2025

Humans have been communicating with pictures since the days of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 28 July 2025

Their antecedents are ancient (Egyptian hieroglyphs, Chinese characters, Mesoamerican pictograms), though the journey from their modern birthplace (Japan circa the turn of the millennium) to their current ubiquity has been quick. —Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 29 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

French hiéroglyphe, from Middle French, back-formation from hieroglyphique

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for hieroglyph

• biff
• cliff
• diff
• glyph
• griff
• if
• riff
• schiff
• skiff
• sniff
• stiff
• tiff

Kids Definition

hieroglyph

noun

hi·​ero·​glyph ˈhī-(ə-)rə-ˌglif 

: a character used in hieroglyphic writing