ankh

noun

ˈäŋk How to pronounce ankh (audio)
: a cross having a loop for its upper vertical arm and serving especially in ancient Egypt as an emblem of life

Illustration of ankh

Illustration of ankh

Examples of ankh in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Many fair folk attended, and Preston provided the central prop, a 19-foot ankh. — Gillian Bagwell, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Sep. 2023 Corona showed me a collection of murals inside the courtyard with Black and Latino motifs: monarch butterflies, ankhs, Aztec gods, and an ibis in red, black and green, the colors of the Pan-African flag. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2023

Word History

Etymology

Egyptian ʽnḫ live

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ankh was in 1854

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Ankh.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ankh. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on ankh

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ankh

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