inscription

American  

[in-skrip-shuhn] / ɪnˈskrɪp ʃən /

noun

• inscriptions
  plural

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

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• inscriptions
  plural

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

See Examples For:

inscription inscriptions

An inscription from Rome records the death of a girl named Antestia Glyceria at the age of 3.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

According to the Times, he added an inscription: "Perhaps this is the only book in this library which will bring true profit to its readers".

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

The New York Times and The Washington Post, citing unnamed sources with knowledge of the proceedings, said the inscription would go directly below the main signage.

From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026

Veteran Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa posted a photo wearing a cowboy hat bearing the “¿Y si sí?” inscription.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 5, 2026

There was only one person who could have come up with that inscription.

From "Schooled" by Gordon Korman

Despite a lack of formal education, Kusman began copying the inscriptions found during excavations carried out in eastern Turkey, Iran and Armenia, over which Urartu once stretched.

From Barron's ● Aug. 10, 2026

The craftsman is getting ready to add the finishing touches, inscriptions or designs, to his work.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026

Once-common literary references to Shakespeare or Dickens have now become as obscure in the common culture as so many Mayan inscriptions.

From Salon ● Apr. 19, 2026

Paintings of the course hang on the walls, as do photographs of famous people with heartfelt inscriptions.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 12, 2026

Knowing how the story always went, Celaena lifted the candle to the arches above the portals, looking for any inscriptions regarding the sure death that would meet her if she walked beneath a specific arch.

From "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas

Related Words

• caption
• engraving
• epitaph
• lettering
• signature