mummy

1 of 2

noun

mum·​my ˈmə-mē 

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

mummy

2 of 2

chiefly British spelling of mommy

Examples of mummy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The method’s potential extends far beyond this study — from bog bodies to mummies and even ancient hormones — offering researchers an unprecedented toolkit for decoding the biological lives of our ancestors. —Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 30 May 2025

The national museum in central Khartoum held close to 100,000 artifacts, dating back more than 4,500 years: mummies, sacred instruments and ancient tools from the Islamic, Christian and Meroitic eras of Sudanese history. —Emmanuel Akinwotu, NPR, 16 May 2025

Next to the mummies is a showcase of the tomb chapel of Nebamun, featuring wall paintings from around 1350 BC. —David Nikel, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025

Now that mummies’ bouquets have been parsed, museums may recreate them. —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 13 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

1615, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for mummy

• chummy
• crummy
• dummy
• gummy
• ramie
• rummy
• tummy
• yummy

Kids Definition

mummy

noun

mum·​my

ˈməm-ē

plural mummies

1

: a body prepared for burial in the manner of the ancient Egyptians

2

: an unusually well-preserved body