What does petrified mean?
Petrified has both a literal and a figurative life. In geology and paleontology, it describes material that has been converted into stone or mineralized while often retaining evidence of its original form, as with petrified wood. Much more commonly in modern speech, it describes a person who is overwhelmed by fear or shock and feels unable to move, speak, or act normally: someone may say they were petrified by a frightening experience. The word can also suggest physical paralysis or stunned immobility, even when the cause is not explicitly fear. Its figurative use is vivid but frequently hyperbolic, particularly in informal conversation, where “I was absolutely petrified” may be stronger than the speaker literally intends. Petrified is related to petrify and petrification and derives from words referring to rock and the act of making.
Converted into stone or a hardened mineral substance; or so frightened or shocked as to be unable to move or speak.
"The ancient tree has become petrified, preserving the pattern of its bark."
The figurative sense is more common in everyday speech than the literal geological sense.
To make rigid or motionless through fear; to cause someone to become extremely frightened or unable to act.
"The unexpected appearance petrified everyone in the room."
Often used figuratively, with some degree of exaggeration in informal contexts.
From being turned to stone to being frozen with fear, petrified captures the extraordinary in both geology and the human imagination.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does petrified come from?
The word comes through French from Latin petrificare, a compound of petra, “rock,” and facere, “to make.” Latin petra itself came from Greek petros, “rock” or “stone.” The English form developed both its geological meaning and its later figurative sense of being made rigid or motionless through fear.
Related word forms
How petrified is actually used
In everyday figurative use, petrified is often hyperbolic, especially in informal speech such as “I was absolutely petrified.” Its literal geological sense is established and technical, whereas the figurative sense is far more common in modern conversation.
Easily confused with petrified
Fossilized describes remains or traces preserved in their original or altered form, whereas petrified more specifically emphasizes conversion into stone or a mineralized substance.