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

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.

Today, her work takes cues from antique phoenix-tail vases, ginger jars, flasks, and other traditional Chinese silhouettes, exploring the intersection of ceramics and globalization. — Hannah Martin, Architectural Digest, 13 Oct. 2026 While this phoenix planet is a gas planet, others could be rocky or even hold life. — Devika Rao, TheWeek, 9 Oct. 2026 Still, the channel has always proven to be resilient — a veritable phoenix that keeps rising stronger and ever more creative after world-shattering events such as 9/11, the SARS outbreak and the 2008 world financial crisis. — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026 Atlanta's newest professional sports team now has a name, a phoenix and a date to take the field. — Christopher Harris, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026 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

See more words from the same century

Browse Nearby Words

Phoeniculus

phoenix

Phoenix

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Phoenix.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phoenix. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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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

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

Phoenician

fē-ˈni-shən

noun

phoenix

noun

Examples of phoenix in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Geographical Definition

geographical name

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