hieroglyphic: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Academic, Technical
Quick answer
What does “hieroglyphic” mean?
A character used in a system of pictorial writing, particularly that used in ancient Egypt, consisting of stylised, symbolic pictures.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A character used in a system of pictorial writing, particularly that used in ancient Egypt, consisting of stylised, symbolic pictures.
Any symbol, picture, or mark that is difficult to decipher or understand; writing or symbols that are obscure or hard to read.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Both use the term identically for the script and the metaphorical sense.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both dialects, evoking antiquity, mystery, and difficulty of interpretation.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both dialects, primarily appearing in academic, historical, or metaphorical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “hieroglyphic” in a Sentence
[be] + hieroglyphic (adj.)[write/inscribe/carve] + in hieroglyphics (n.pl.)[decipher/translate/read] + hieroglyphics (n.pl.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hieroglyphic” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The term is not used as a verb in modern English.
American English
- The term is not used as a verb in modern English.
adverb
British English
- The term is not used as an adverb.
American English
- The term is not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The tablet contained a hieroglyphic inscription along its edge.
- His doctor's notes were completely hieroglyphic.
American English
- They found a wall with hieroglyphic carvings.
- The software's error log was hieroglyphic to the average user.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically: 'The new regulations are hieroglyphic to anyone outside the legal department.'
Academic
Common in archaeology, Egyptology, linguistics, and history. 'The paper analyses the syntactic structure of Middle Kingdom hieroglyphic texts.'
Everyday
Metaphorical use describing bad handwriting: 'I can't read his hieroglyphic scribble on the note.'
Technical
Specific to the study of ancient writing systems. 'The Rosetta Stone was key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphic writing.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hieroglyphic”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hieroglyphic”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hieroglyphic”
- Using 'hieroglyphic' as a countable noun for a single symbol (better: 'a hieroglyph' or 'a hieroglyphic character'). Confusing spelling: 'heiroglific' or 'hierogliphic'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Hieroglyph' is a countable noun for a single symbol (e.g., 'an ankh hieroglyph'). 'Hieroglyphic' is primarily an adjective ('hieroglyphic writing') or an uncountable plural noun ('written in hieroglyphics').
While 'hieroglyphic' overwhelmingly refers to Egyptian systems, the term is also used academically for other pictorial scripts, like Anatolian or Maya. In everyday use, it implies 'Egyptian'.
Yes, it's commonly used metaphorically to describe anything that is very difficult to read or understand, such as bad handwriting, complex code, or dense technical jargon.
It is typically treated as a plural uncountable noun (e.g., 'These hieroglyphics are ancient.'). The singular form for the system is rare; one would say 'hieroglyphic writing' or 'the hieroglyphic script'.
A character used in a system of pictorial writing, particularly that used in ancient Egypt, consisting of stylised, symbolic pictures.
Hieroglyphic is usually formal, academic, technical in register.
Hieroglyphic: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhaɪrəˈɡlɪfɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhaɪroʊˈɡlɪfɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “as clear as hieroglyphics (used ironically to mean 'completely illegible or incomprehensible')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HIERO (sounds like 'hero') + GLYPHIC (sounds like 'cliff'). Imagine a hero carving symbols on a cliff-face – those are hieroglyphics.
Conceptual Metaphor
WRITING/COMMUNICATION AS A SECRET CODE; ILLEGIBILITY AS ANCIENT MYSTERY.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'hieroglyphic' used LEAST appropriately?