hieroglyph

noun

hi·​ero·​glyph ˈhī-(ə-)rə-ˌglif How to pronounce hieroglyph (audio)
Synonyms of hieroglyphnext
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Go for a stroll on the water line at night or early morning and hopefully tracks will present themselves, flipper marks and a solid line for the shell, like hieroglyphs. — Eric Barton, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026 Pieces of papyrus or stone, with hieroglyphs sometimes incomplete, were recreated as a precious trio of clips, each with Fragment in their name. — Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 9 June 2026 Humans have been communicating with pictures since the days of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 28 July 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for hieroglyph

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hieroglyph was in 1598

Rhymes for hieroglyph

See All Rhymes for hieroglyph

Browse Nearby Words

hierodulic
hieroglyph
hieroglyphic
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hieroglyph.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hieroglyph. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

hieroglyph

noun
hi·​ero·​glyph ˈhī-(ə-)rə-ˌglif How to pronounce hieroglyph (audio)
: a character used in hieroglyphic writing

More from Merriam-Webster on hieroglyph

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for hieroglyph

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hieroglyph

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All