Illustration of ankh
: a cross having a loop for its upper vertical arm and serving especially in ancient Egypt as an emblem of life
Examples of ankh in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
His arms were sleeved in tattoos: an Egyptian ankh, an Eye of God inside a pyramid, the face of Jesus over the words In God We Trust.
—
Ariel Sabar, The Atlantic, 13 May 2026
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
Their medallion may have been an ankh, a star, a cross.
—Steve West, Sun Sentinel, 29 Sep. 2022
This incarnation of Death was not a scythe-wielding Grim Reaper but rather a cute goth girl with a spunky attitude and a pretty ankh symbol.
—Christian Holub, EW.com, 22 Aug. 2020
The ancient Egyptian symbol for life, the ankh—a cross shape with an oval loop—influenced the development of the cross known as the crux ansata, used extensively in Coptic symbolism.
—National Geographic, 19 Apr. 2019
In ancient Egypt the ankh was the symbol of both eternal life and a sacred metal, copper.
—Emily Dudding, Harper's BAZAAR, 13 Mar. 2014
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.
Ariel Sabar, The Atlantic, 13 May 2026
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
Their medallion may have been an ankh, a star, a cross.
—Steve West, Sun Sentinel, 29 Sep. 2022
This incarnation of Death was not a scythe-wielding Grim Reaper but rather a cute goth girl with a spunky attitude and a pretty ankh symbol.
—Christian Holub, EW.com, 22 Aug. 2020
The ancient Egyptian symbol for life, the ankh—a cross shape with an oval loop—influenced the development of the cross known as the crux ansata, used extensively in Coptic symbolism.
—National Geographic, 19 Apr. 2019
In ancient Egypt the ankh was the symbol of both eternal life and a sacred metal, copper.
—Emily Dudding, Harper's BAZAAR, 13 Mar. 2014
Cite this Entry
“Ankh.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ankh. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
