larynx

noun

lar·​ynx ˈler-iŋ(k)s 

ˈla-riŋ(k)s

plural larynges lə-ˈrin-(ˌ)jēz  or larynxes

: the modified upper part of the trachea of air-breathing vertebrates that in humans, most other mammals, and some amphibians and reptiles contains the vocal cords

Examples of larynx in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Instead of using lips like humans do, horses create a whistle inside their larynx or voice box, At the same time, the vocal cords are producing the deeper sound. —Kate Perez, USA Today, 25 Feb. 2026

And a high-frequency sound of more than 1,000 hertz is produced by whistling within the larynx. —Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 24 Feb. 2026

Instead, researchers found that the upper pitches appear to form when air rushes through a narrow opening in the animal’s larynx, creating a tiny jet of turbulent air. —Liz Neporent, ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026

The Catholic Church, for a time, saw no reason to surrender its finest young larynxes to the whims of puberty—not when castration was an option. —Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin laryng-, larynx, from Greek

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for larynx

• pharynx

Kids Definition

larynx

noun

lar·​ynx ˈlar-iŋ(k)s 

plural larynges lə-ˈrin-(ˌ)jēz  or larynxes

: the upper part of the trachea that in human beings and most mammals contains the vocal cords

called also voice box

Medical Definition

larynx

noun

lar·​ynx ˈlar-iŋ(k)s 

plural larynges lə-ˈrin-(ˌ)jēz  or larynxes

: the modified upper part of the respiratory passage of air-breathing vertebrates that is bounded above by the glottis, is continuous below with the trachea, has a complex cartilaginous or bony skeleton capable of limited motion through the action of associated muscles, and in humans, most other mammals, and a few lower forms has a set of elastic vocal cords that play a major role in sound production and speech

called also voice box