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

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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

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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

This last, it is said, may be a deleted chapter from the novel but is notable for many chills of its own, such as that evoked by the alarming tombstone inscription: “The dead travel fast.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 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

“At the bottom of the painting is an inscription: ‘But she was kind…’ When I am no longer about, I hope someone will be able to say that about me.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026

The book, donated as part of a wider collection of 1970s memorabilia, sat in the shop for several months before its inscription was discovered by manager Joan Randle.

From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026

A formal style that is appropriate for the inscription on a genocide memorial will differ from a casual style that is appropriate for an email to a close friend.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

There are no signatures and—except in the latest drawings—no text whatsoever: no labels, no inscriptions, no dimensions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 27, 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

Golden inscriptions read "One Nation Under God" and "Liberty and Justice for All" on opposite sides.

From Barron's ● Apr. 11, 2026

Within seconds the fire had devoured both identical inscriptions, to whit: Passerby, pray for the soul of Zopilote Devine!

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

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Related Words

• caption
• engraving
• epitaph
• lettering
• signature

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