griffin

noun

grif·​fin ˈgri-fən 

variants or griffon or less commonly gryphon

: a mythical animal typically having the head, forepart, and wings of an eagle and the body, hind legs, and tail of a lion

Illustration of griffin

Examples of griffin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Going home: The Metropolitan Museum of Art is returning the bronze head of a griffin to Greece after determining that the artifact was quite likely stolen in the 1930s. —Natasha Frost, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025

The griffin—a fusion of eagle (vision, intelligence) and lion (strength, courage)—embodies the bold leadership necessary to create a sustainable peace economy. —Dr. Adil Dalal, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025

The Met will return an ancient bronze griffin to Greece after determining that it was probably stolen from a Greek museum in the 1930s. —Benjamin Mueller, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is returning to Greece the bronze head of a griffin, the mythological creature, after determining that the artifact from the 7th century B.C. was likely stolen from an archaeological museum in Olympia in the 1930s. —Graham Bowley, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English griffon, from Anglo-French grif, griffun, from Latin gryphus, from Greek gryp-, gryps

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for griffin

• griffon
• gryphon
• stiffen
• tiffin

Kids Definition

griffin

noun

grif·​fin

variants or griffon also gryphon

ˈgrif-ən

: an imaginary animal that is half eagle and half lion

Geographical Definition

Griffin

geographical name

Grif·​fin ˈgri-fən 

city south-southeast of Atlanta in west central Georgia population 23,643

Biographical Definition

Griffin

biographical name

Grif·​fin ˈgri-fən 

Walter Burley 1876–1937 American architect