phoenix

noun

phoe·​nix ˈfē-niks 

: a legendary bird which according to one account lived 500 years, burned itself to ashes on a pyre, and rose alive from the ashes to live another period

also : a person or thing likened to the phoenix

phoenixlike

ˈfē-niks-ˌlīk 

adjective

Examples of phoenix in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Chávez said Monday was a day for rejoicing and noted that the New Haven Pride Center is like a phoenix rising from the ashes in time to celebrate its 30th anniversary. —Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 1 June 2026

Every day, visitors arrive to dress in robes richly embroidered with phoenixes and adorn themselves with jade and pearl pendants and gold fingernail guards like those worn in imperial China. —ABC News, 30 May 2026

Google rose like a phoenix from the dot-com’s ashes. —Sunil Sharan, Fortune, 27 May 2026

The Phoenix Crown of the Druk Gyaltsuen (Dragon Queen) is made of silk brocade and adorned with phoenixes and other Buddhist motifs, Tatler Asia previously reported. —Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 11 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English fenix, from Old English, from Latin phoenix, from Greek phoinix

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

phoenix

noun

phoe·​nix ˈfē-niks 

: a legendary bird which was thought to live for 500 years, burn itself to death, and then rise newborn from the ashes

Geographical Definition

Phoenix

geographical name

Phoe·​nix ˈfē-niks 

city on the Salt River in Arizona population 1,445,632

Note: Phoenix is Arizona's capital and its most populous city.

Phoenician

fē-ˈni-shən 

noun