sphinx

noun

ˈsfiŋ(k)s 

plural sphinxes or sphinges ˈsfin-ˌjēz 

1

a

capitalized : a winged female monster in Greek mythology having a woman's head and a lion's body and noted for killing anyone unable to answer its riddle

b

: an enigmatic or mysterious person

she is a sphinx whose features hold a blank fascination

2

: an ancient Egyptian image in the form of a recumbent lion having a man's head, a ram's head, or a hawk's head

sphinxlike

ˈsfiŋ(k)s-ˌlīk 

adjective

Examples of sphinx in a Sentence

a statue of the Sphinx

Recent Examples on the Web

The animal and human meets meanwhile in the 4th century BCE work Allée des sphinx (Sphinx Alley). —Sarah Belmont, ARTnews.com, 5 Dec. 2024

Cheng was struck at how the public shrines in both countries—elephants, sphinxes, buddhas—were anonymously authored and incorporated into civic life in the utilitarian manner of a park bench or a table. —Louis Bury, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2019

One breed that does need the occasional bath is the sphinx, which, according to an article by Pango Vet, medically reviewed by Dr. Nia Perkins, needs help removing dirt and oils from their skin every now and then. —Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024

The face of the Egyptian sphinx, Selzer says, looks like Mikhail Gorbachev. —Marianne Mather, Chicago Tribune, 24 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek Sphinx, Sphix

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing sphinx

• sphinx moth

Kids Definition

sphinx

noun

ˈsfiŋ(k)s 

plural sphinxes or sphinges ˈsfin-ˌjēz 

: an ancient Egyptian image having the body of a lion and the head of a man, ram, or hawk