hieroglyphic

1 of 2

adjective

hi·​ero·​glyph·​ic ˌhī-(ə-)rə-ˈgli-fik 

variants or less commonly hieroglyphical

ˌhī-(ə-)rə-ˈgli-fi-kəl 

1

: written in, constituting, or belonging to a system of writing mainly in pictorial characters

2

: inscribed with hieroglyphic

3

: resembling hieroglyphic in difficulty of decipherment

hieroglyphically

ˌhī-(ə-)rə-ˈgli-fi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

hieroglyphic

2 of 2

noun

1

: hieroglyph

2

: a system of hieroglyphic writing

specifically : the picture script of the ancient Egyptian priesthood

—often used in plural but singular or plural in construction

3

: something that resembles a hieroglyph especially in difficulty of decipherment

Illustration of hieroglyphic

• hieroglyphic 2

Did you know?

If hieroglyphic writing is "all Greek to you," you know more about the etymology of hieroglyphic than you might think. That word comes from the Greek hieroglyphikos, which means "sacred carving" (from hieros, meaning "sacred," and glyphein, meaning "to carve"). The ancient Greeks who named hieroglyphic writing reserved that term for the picture writing they found carved in temple walls or on public monuments in Egypt; it was distinguished from writings done in ink on papyrus or other smooth surfaces. But since making their first appearances in English in the 1580s, both the noun hieroglyphics and the adjective hieroglyphic have been extended to apply to the picture writing of various cultures, whether or not those writings were carved or sacred.

Examples of hieroglyphic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

In the Penn Museum’s collection is a part of a priest’s burial chamber covered in hieroglyphic instructions for living visitors. —Leslie Shapiro, Washington Post, 19 Sep. 2023

Egyptologists recovered the first of these inscriptions in the early decades of the 20th century, noting their clear hieroglyphic influence. —Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 18 Nov. 2021

In recent decades, the Maya have taken a star turn, as more of their ancient cities in Mexico and Central America have been unearthed and their hieroglyphic texts deciphered. —Keith Kloor, Discover Magazine, 3 Jan. 2012

Inside the New Kingdom tombs, which date back to the 1500s B.C., alabaster statues of the tombs' owners were discovered still intact inside, with hieroglyphic text in blue. —Charlene Gubash, NBC News, 27 May 2023

Some, like the Aztec and Maya, had hieroglyphic systems, but those symbols offered little insight into the spoken languages themselves. —Jennie Rothenberg Gritz, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 May 2023

This is the first discovery in over 11 years of an object with hieroglyphic writing at Chichén Itzá, according to Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History. —Joe Snell, Washington Post, 14 Apr. 2023

The circular piece, measuring just over 32 centimeters (12.6 inches) in diameter and weighing 40 kilograms (88 pounds), displays hieroglyphic writing surrounding two players standing next to a ball, according to a statement from Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH). —Reuters, CNN, 12 Apr. 2023

Their highest accomplishment might be as a digital time capsule, a hieroglyphic record of the overstimulated yet undernourished online hive mind. —Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2021

Noun

In Alexandria, at about the same time, a slab of igneous rock etched with Greek and hieroglyphics was packed onto a 40-gun ship and made to brave the waves of the Mediterranean. —Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2023

Much of Philae’s graffiti consists of prayers and names in Demotic script, a form of Egyptian writing that succeeded hieroglyphics, used primarily by priests and officials in an era when few people could read and write. —Amy Crawford, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Sep. 2023

The hieroglyphics and artwork on the courtyard walls outside match the original theater design, including the sphinxes, ancient markers of mystery and quiet. —Elvia Limón, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2023

And making this scene feel authentic required more than etching a few hieroglyphics on the walls. —Angelique Jackson, Variety, 22 Aug. 2023

The cover is etched with scientific hieroglyphics that spell out our star’s address among the nearest pulsars, as well as the unit of time for the record’s speed and instructions to play it. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 20 July 2023

Advertisement The main stage is framed by an arch of mini glowing UFOs and alien hieroglyphics awash in purple and green lights. —Nate Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2023

There's also a vast collection of hieroglyphics and the sacred tomb of King Pakal. —Christin Parcerisa Vigueras, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2023

But what do those hieroglyphics actually mean? —Treehugger Editors, Treehugger, 31 Mar. 2023

See More

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle French hieroglyphique, from Late Latin hieroglyphicus, from Greek hieroglyphikos, from hieros + glyphein to carve — more at cleave

First Known Use

Adjective

1585, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

hieroglyphic

noun

hi·​ero·​glyph·​ic

ˌhī-(ə-)rə-ˈglif-ik

1

: hieroglyph

2

: a system of writing mainly in pictorial characters

especially : the picture script of the ancient Egyptian priesthood

3

: unclear or unreadable signs or writing

hieroglyphic adjective

Etymology

Noun

derived from early French hieroglyphique (adjective) "relating to or being writing that consists of pictures or symbols rather than words," derived from Greek hieroglyphikos (same meaning), from hieros "sacred, holy" and glyphikos "of carving"; so called because it referred to the system of carvings used on ancient Egyptian temples