phoenix

noun

phoe·​nix ˈfē-niks How to pronounce phoenix (audio)
: a legendary bird which according to one account lived 500 years, burned itself to ashes on a pyre, and rose alive from the ashes to live another period
also : a person or thing likened to the phoenix
phoenixlike
ˈfē-niks-ˌlīk How to pronounce phoenix (audio)
adjective

Examples of phoenix 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.
The torn, not ripped, jeans in the clip package seem to hint at her hit song, as well, and the phoenix on the guitar could suggest Firebird, her most recent LP. —Marah Eakin, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2024 Read the full Leo Daily Horoscope Virgo (August 23 - September 22) Feel like a phoenix about to burst into flames? —USA TODAY, 16 Oct. 2024 The lime emoji in Unicode 15.1 was actually a lemon emoji combined with the color green; the phoenix was a regular bird joined to the fire emoji. —Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 12 Sep. 2024 Just like the phoenix, Jack Black says Tenacious D will rise again. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 7 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for phoenix 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English fenix, from Old English, from Latin phoenix, from Greek phoinix

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of phoenix was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near phoenix

Phoeniculus

phoenix

Phoenix

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Phoenix.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phoenix. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

phoenix

noun
phoe·​nix ˈfē-niks How to pronounce phoenix (audio)
: a legendary bird which was thought to live for 500 years, burn itself to death, and then rise newborn from the ashes

Geographical Definition

Phoenix

geographical name

Phoe·​nix ˈfē-niks How to pronounce Phoenix (audio)
city on the Salt River in Arizona population 1,445,632

Note: Phoenix is Arizona's capital and its most populous city.

Phoenician
fē-ˈni-shən How to pronounce Phoenix (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on phoenix

Nglish: Translation of phoenix for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of phoenix for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about phoenix

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