petroglyph

noun

pet·​ro·​glyph ˈpe-trə-ˌglif 

: a carving or inscription on a rock

Examples of petroglyph in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments in southern Utah have ancient cliff dwellings, petroglyphs and scenic canyons, as well as coal and uranium deposits that state officials want made available for development. — ABC News, 13 July 2026

Petroglyph National Monument in Albuquerque protects one of the largest petroglyph sites in North America. — Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026

On Maui, time travel is written in ancient petroglyphs on volcanic stone. — Julie Orringer, Travel + Leisure, 9 June 2026

What to see today There are plenty of hikes and lookouts throughout the park, from Halemaʻumaʻu Crater to the petroglyph field, featuring ancient rock carvings, along the Chain of Craters Road. — Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 20 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

petro- + glyph, probably after hieroglyph

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for petroglyph

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