griffin

noun

grif·​fin ˈgri-fən How to pronounce griffin (audio)
variants or griffon or less commonly
: 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

Illustration of griffin

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web There is also an explosion of what look like giant grape vines (also wood-like), out of the pods of which erupt a crew of beasties: a gnashing cyclops, a gnashing griffin, and more gnashers. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 15 Mar. 2023 The backlash has intensified since last fall, when the City Council began pushing to remove the department’s emblem – a winged creature known as a griffin that had adorned patches on officers’ uniforms since the 1960s. From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 15 July 2021 The Dreaming has two gates — one of horn and one of ivory, built from the bones of ancient gods that picked a fight with Dream eons ago — and is usually guarded by three gatekeepers: a wyvern, a griffin, and a hippogriff. Christian Holub, EW.com, 26 July 2022 Hart said the debate over the griffin missed the bigger picture. Ryan J. Foley, USA TODAY, 17 Sep. 2021 Hart said the debate over the griffin missed the bigger picture. NBC News, 17 Sep. 2021 Supporters of the griffin, including the Back the Blue group, framed its removal as an affront to officers. Ryan J. Foley, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Sep. 2021 Supporters of the griffin, including the Back the Blue group, framed its removal as an affront to officers. NBC News, 17 Sep. 2021 Supporters of the griffin, including the Back the Blue group, framed its removal as an affront to officers. Ryan J. Foley, USA TODAY, 17 Sep. 2021 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'griffin.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of griffin was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near griffin

Cite this Entry

“Griffin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/griffin. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.

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 How to pronounce Griffin (audio)
city south-southeast of Atlanta in west central Georgia population 23,643

Biographical Definition

Griffin

biographical name

Grif·​fin ˈgri-fən How to pronounce Griffin (audio)
Walter Burley 1876–1937 American architect

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