griffin

1 of 2

noun (1)

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

gryphon

2 of 2

noun (2)

gryph·​on

variant spelling of griffin

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

Examples of griffin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

On a blind date, his descriptions of magical griffins and burning deserts sound humiliatingly immature. —Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 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

Noun

The Cotton Exchange has fanciful touches on the exterior, including faux columns and balustrades, and a fountain at the front of the building, dominated by a gryphon, a mythic creature that is part lion, part eagle. —Jim Halley, AJC.com, 27 Jan. 2026

Living On the Crusts First discovered in 2023, the Borealis Mud Volcano is distinguished by a cluster of craters within a depression around 1,600 feet to 2,000 feet in diameter and an active gryphon, which is a steep cone that expels mud and other fluids, gasses, and oils. —Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 28 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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