- plural of hieroglyphic.
hieroglyphics
Britishnoun
-
a form of writing, esp as used in ancient Egypt, in which pictures or symbols are used to represent objects, concepts, or sounds
-
difficult or undecipherable writing
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Present-day writing that is hard to decipher or understand is sometimes jokingly called “hieroglyphics.”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
His images conjure illuminated manuscripts, textiles, hieroglyphics, board games, musical scores, and tribal and children’s art, while echoing the structures of animals, crystals, plants and cells.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
USC journalism professor and longtime record collector Oscar Garza describes these markings as “Chicano hieroglyphics… a reflection of the friends who shared the memories of that song or album.”
From Los Angeles Times ● May 4, 2026
Until now it was thought that writing developed in Mesopotamia around 3,000 BCE, followed by hieroglyphics in Egypt and later in China and Mesoamerica.
From BBC ● Feb. 26, 2026
Much like the Rosetta Stone helped scientists interpret ancient hieroglyphics, V1298 Tau provides a key reference for understanding how the galaxy's most common planets take shape.
From Science Daily ● Jan. 31, 2026
“I thought those hieroglyphics were some kind of secret wise sayings,” I said as I gazed at the faded symbols on the obelisk.
From "The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatra's Needle" by Dan Gutman
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