# inscription

/ˌɪnsˈkɹɪpʃən/ (US) · /ɪnskɹˈɪpʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/inscription
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. carved text

noun · CEFR B2

words that are cut into a hard surface, such as a stone wall, a statue, or a metal plaque.

For teachers: text engraved, etched, or carved into a durable surface like stone, metal, or wood, often for commemorative purposes.

- The inscription on the old gravestone was hard to read because of the moss.
- Archaeologists spent weeks cleaning the monument to reveal a Latin inscription that dated the structure to the third century.

### 2. book dedication

noun · CEFR B2

a short message written by hand in the front of a book, usually by the author.

For teachers: a brief, often personal message written or printed at the beginning of a book as a dedication or record of ownership.

- The author wrote a personal inscription in my copy of her new novel.
- The rare first edition was particularly valuable because it contained an intimate inscription from the poet to his sister.

### 3. text on a coin

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the words or letters stamped onto a coin or medal.

For teachers: the legend or lettering struck onto the surface of a coin, medal, or token.

- The silver coin had a tiny inscription around the edge.
- The numismatist examined the coin's inscription to determine which mint had produced it during the emperor's reign.

## Examples

- The inscription on the statue honors the soldiers.
- Tourists gathered to read the inscription on the war memorial.
- The faded inscription on the ancient tomb provided crucial evidence for historians studying the region's early trade routes.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.