mummy

noun mum·my \ ˈmə-mē \

|Updated on: 31 Jul 2018

Definition of mummy

plural mummies

1 a : a body embalmed or treated for burial with preservatives in the manner of the ancient Egyptians

b : a body unusually well preserved

2 : one resembling a mummy

See mummy defined for kids

Recent Examples of mummy from the Web

Most sarcophagi are found already opened, their contents taken away and the bones of the mummies sometimes found scattered by looters.

— owen jarus, Scientific American, "Discovery of Massive Granite Sarcophagus Presents Mystery of Who Is Inside," 12 July 2018
Museum officials are quick to note that while the Sphinx and other artifacts will not be on view after this weekend, mummies and Egyptian funerary artifacts will be on hand for visitors to see throughout the renovation.

— stephan salisbury, Philly.com, "Visit the Penn Museum's Sphinx this weekend, or wait another 4 to 6 years," 5 July 2018
Scientists in Australia have discovered the remains of a mummy in a 2,500-year-old coffin that was previously classified as empty.

— deutsche welle, USA TODAY, "2,500-year-old mummy found in what was thought to be an empty Egyptian coffin," 27 Mar. 2018
In 2017, the ministry found a necropolis holding at least 17 mummies in the area of Tuna al-Gabal. a vast archaeological site on the edge of the western desert.

— fernando alfonso iii, Houston Chronicle, "Storm uncovers ancient forest and wreckage in England," 6 Mar. 2018
See the mummy of the Boy Pharaoh Tutankhamon, recently unveiled to the world.

— jim berkeley, Town & Country, "How to Plan a Trip to Egypt," 5 Oct. 2016
Guerrero’s lawyers even cited archaeological findings that Inca mummies also tested positive for benzoylecgonine, thus disproving the notion that the player had necessarily consumed cocaine, a 19th-century invention.

— simeon tegel, Washington Post, "Peru’s long-awaited World Cup party hits frenzy with return of Paolo Guerrero," 15 June 2018
But what about Peru's Paolo Guerrero, who almost missed out on this World Cup after testing positive for cocaine only to have his suspension shortened after his attorneys made an argument on his behalf that cited Inca mummies.

— matt young, Houston Chronicle, "Players to watch from each World Cup soccer team," 14 June 2018
The result of natural processes rather than intentional mummification as in ancient Egypt, some of these mummies are preserved by very dry environments protected in caves and rock shelters.

— julia kate clark, Smithsonian, "As Mongolia Melts, Looters Close In On Priceless Artifacts," 11 Apr. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of mummy

Middle English mummie powdered parts of a mummified body used as a drug, from Anglo-French mumie, from Medieval Latin mumia mummy, powdered mummy, from Arabic mūmiya bitumen, mummy, from Persian mūm wax

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1615

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year