sphinx

noun

ˈsfiŋ(k)s 

plural sphinxes or sphinges ˈsfin-ˌjēz 

1

a

Sphinx : 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

Throughout the day, people can’t seem to stop reaching for means of documentation — their camcorder, digicam, phone, at one point even a palm-size notebook where a young artist from the neighborhood was sketching one of the sphinxes. —Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026

Mythical creatures — griffins and sphinxes — adorn the back, motifs that speak to the cultural exchanges flowing through the region. —Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026

Mythical creatures — griffins and sphinxes — cover the back. —Ryan Brennan april 10, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2026

At the Great Pyramids of Giza, her arched, golden globule sat near a sphinx similar in size and color, and recently, her silvery, iridescent spire towered over the Saudi Arabian desert. —Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 7 Apr. 2026

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

Rhymes for sphinx

• binks
• blinks
• chinks
• drinks
• hinks
• inks
• jinks
• jinx
• kinks
• links
• lynx
• minks

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