What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
lithify
Example
The sediment will lithify over time and become rock. [lithify: verb]
Example
The sand grains lithified into sandstone over millions of years. [lithified: past tense]
petrify
Example
The dinosaur bones were petrified and turned into fossils. [petrified: past participle]
Example
The wood was petrified by the minerals in the water, turning it into stone. [petrified: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Petrify is a more common term than lithify in everyday language, as it is used to describe a broader range of phenomena. Lithify is a more technical term used primarily in geology.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between lithify and petrify?
Lithify is a more formal term than petrify, as it is primarily used in scientific and technical contexts.
