Illustration of papyrus
- papyrus 1
papyrus
noun
pa·py·rus
pə-ˈpī-rəs 
plural papyri
pə-ˈpī-(ˌ)rē
-rī
or papyruses
1
: a tall perennial sedge (Cyperus papyrus) of the Nile valley
2
: the pith of the papyrus plant especially when made into strips and pressed into a material to write on
3
a
: a writing on papyrus
b
: a written scroll made of papyrus
He discovered a papyrus in the ruins.
Examples of papyrus in a Sentence
an ancient text written on papyrus
He discovered a papyrus in the ruins.
Recent Examples on the Web
In the 18th century, an Italian monk, Father Antonio Piaggio, invented a device to gently unroll the carbonized papyrus.
—
Claudio Lavanga,
NBC news,
26 June 2026
During a dig in Herculaneum in the 18th century, archaeologists found 1,800 papyrus scrolls in an intact ancient library, deep under the site of a villa that was destroyed by Vesuvius' eruption.
—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
26 June 2026
In contrast, the new approach sees the scrolls scanned using high-resolution micro-CT imaging to produce X-ray maps of the delicate papyrus layers.
—
Adam England,
PEOPLE,
26 June 2026
Some 400 of these papyrus scrolls remain intact, says Seales.
—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for papyrus
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Claudio Lavanga,
NBC news,
26 June 2026
During a dig in Herculaneum in the 18th century, archaeologists found 1,800 papyrus scrolls in an intact ancient library, deep under the site of a villa that was destroyed by Vesuvius' eruption.
—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
26 June 2026
In contrast, the new approach sees the scrolls scanned using high-resolution micro-CT imaging to produce X-ray maps of the delicate papyrus layers.
—
Adam England,
PEOPLE,
26 June 2026
Some 400 of these papyrus scrolls remain intact, says Seales.
—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for papyrus
Cite this Entry
“Papyrus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/papyrus. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
papyrus
noun
pa·py·rus
pə-ˈpī-rəs
plural papyri
-ˈpī(ə)r-ē
-ˌī
also papyruses
1
: a tall sedge of the Nile valley
2
: the soft central part of papyrus stems especially when made into strips and pressed into a writing material
3
: a writing on or written scroll of papyrus
Etymology
Middle English papyrus "papyrus," from Latin papyrus "papyrus, paper," from Greek papyros "papyrus" — related to paper
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