Phoenician

1 of 2

noun (1)

Phoe·​ni·​cian fi-ˈnē-shən  -ˈni- 

1

: a native or inhabitant of ancient Phoenicia

2

: the Semitic language of ancient Phoenicia

Phoenician adjective

phoenix

2 of 2

noun (2)

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 Phoenician in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Where to watch:Netflix 'The Phoenician Scheme' Wes Anderson's comedy stars Benicio del Toro as a famed arms dealer who, after one assassination attempt too many, makes his estranged nun daughter (Mia Threapleton) his sole heir. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 1 Aug. 2025

Prior to making their relationship red-carpet official, Hernández and the architect made two public appearances in May 2025 — one at a Met Gala afterparty and another at the N.Y.C. premiere of The Phoenician Scheme. —Samantha Stutsman, People.com, 31 July 2025

Noun

Chávez said Monday was a day for rejoicing and noted that the New Haven Pride Center is like a phoenix rising from the ashes in time to celebrate its 30th anniversary. —Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 1 June 2026

Every day, visitors arrive to dress in robes richly embroidered with phoenixes and adorn themselves with jade and pearl pendants and gold fingernail guards like those worn in imperial China. —ABC News, 30 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

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

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Phoenician

• accretion
• completion
• concretion
• deletion
• depletion
• excretion
• repletion
• secretion
• carburetion
• grecian
• hypersecretion

Kids Definition

Phoenician

noun

Phoe·​ni·​cian fi-ˈnish-ən  -ˈnē-shən 

1

: a person born or living in ancient Phoenicia

2

: the Semitic language of ancient Phoenicia

Phoenician adjective

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