inscription

American  

[in-skrip-shuhn] / ɪnˈskrɪp ʃən /

noun

1. something inscribed.

2. a historical, religious, or other record cut, impressed, painted, or written on stone, brick, metal, or other hard surface.

3. a brief, usually informal dedication, as of a book or a work of art.

4. a note, as a dedication, that is written and signed by hand in a book.

5. the act of inscribing.

6. Pharmacology. the part of a prescription indicating the drugs and the amounts to be mixed.

7. British.

   1. an issue of securities or stocks.

   2. a block of shares in a stock, as bought or sold by one person.

8. Also called legend.  Numismatics. the lettering in the field of a coin, medal, etc.

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inscription British  

/ ɪnˈskrɪpʃən /

noun

1. something inscribed, esp words carved or engraved on a coin, tomb, etc

2. a signature or brief dedication in a book or on a work of art

3. the act of inscribing

4. philosophy linguistics an element of written language, esp a sentence Compare utterance 1

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Other Word Forms

• inscriptional
  adjective
• inscriptionless
  adjective
• inscriptively
  adverb
• preinscription
  noun
• superinscription
  noun

Etymology

Origin of inscription

1350–1400; Middle English inscripcio ( u ) n < Latin inscrīptiōn- (stem of inscrīptiō ), equivalent to inscrīpt ( us ) (past participle of inscrībere to inscribe ) + -iōn- -ion

Explanation

Inscription is a fancy word for “writing” — the act of writing or a small bit of writing. You weren't excited when you received the card, but the inscription inside made you weep with emotion. Here, have a tissue. You can see the word script in inscription which can help you remember its meaning. You might find an inscription on a gravestone, on a locket, on a cufflink, or in a book. You were excited to see the inscription dedicating your friend's novel to you, until you fell asleep before page 10. Then you weren't sure what to say.

Example Sentences

Just over a year after the unveiling of the "Frankfurt Silver Inscription" -- the oldest known Christian written testimony north of the Alps -- attention is once again turning to this ancient site.

From Science Daily • Apr. 5, 2026

Historians quickly dismiss the so-called Smallfoot Inscription as a forgery.

From Slate • Apr. 26, 2018

The deal closer is the S90’s interior, though, especially in Inscription trim.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 9, 2018

The Inscription model tested will drain your checking account of $84,005, though prices start at $69,095.

From New York Times • Mar. 31, 2016

The Inscription on the long brass I take to be this in English.

From Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Manchester A Short History and Description of the Church and of the Collegiate Buildings now known as Chetham's Hospital by Perkins, Thomas, Rev.

Related Words

• caption
• engraving
• epitaph
• lettering
• signature