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

Written in three scripts—Greek, Demotic, and hieroglyphic—the stone allowed scholars, most notably Jean-François Champollion in the early 19th century, to decipher the meaning of hieroglyphs for the first time. —David Nikel, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025

The first sliver of light in the east revealed their movable aviary, a box of netted scaffolding the size of a barn, with a few dozen birds perched in silhouette, like hieroglyphs. —Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025

Before the invention of alphabets, early writing systems—like hieroglyphs and cuneiform—used symbols representing objects or phonetic sounds. —Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Nov. 2024

From Egyptian hieroglyphs to European folklore, these birds have been revered for their elegance and adaptability. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024

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