phoenix

noun

phoe·​nix ˈfē-niks 

: 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 

adjective

Examples of phoenix in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

His masks also include palm trees for his state of residency, and a Russian phoenix for his home country. —Jesse Granger, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025

Wise-eyed tigers, glowing phoenixes, talking kangaroos, and diamond griffins. —Jonathan Rowe, SPIN, 18 Dec. 2024

Her bouts with homelessness and drug addiction made the longevity of her career a phoenix's story. —Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2025

And now, Time … crawling slowly, Starts to sift through the ashes Of this black kind of phoenix With trembling hands — Crying!! —Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2025

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

Kids Definition

phoenix

noun

phoe·​nix ˈfē-niks 

: 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 

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 

noun