sphinx

noun

ˈsfiŋ(k)s 

plural sphinxes or sphinges ˈsfin-ˌjēz 

1

a

Sphinx : a winged female monster in Greek mythology having a woman's head and a lion's body and noted for killing anyone unable to answer its riddle

b

: an enigmatic or mysterious person

she is a sphinx whose features hold a blank fascination

2

: an ancient Egyptian image in the form of a recumbent lion having a man's head, a ram's head, or a hawk's head

sphinxlike

ˈsfiŋ(k)s-ˌlīk 

adjective

Examples of sphinx in a Sentence

a statue of the Sphinx

Recent Examples on the Web

At the Great Pyramids of Giza, her arched, golden globule sat near a sphinx similar in size and color, and recently, her silvery, iridescent spire towered over the Saudi Arabian desert. —Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 7 Apr. 2026

As supporting evidence, Biondi cites the Dream Stele — a granite slab placed in front of the Great Sphinx around 1400 BC — which appears to depict two sphinx figures. —Ryan Brennan april 1, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2026

Trying to understand Brad Underwood is not exactly solving the riddle of the sphinx. —Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026

One presumably has to be a greater-than-casual MAGA fan to go to a theater to watch a documentary about the sphinx-like first lady. —James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 6 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek Sphinx, Sphix

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing sphinx

• sphinx moth

Rhymes for sphinx

• binks
• blinks
• chinks
• drinks
• hinks
• inks
• jinks
• jinx
• kinks
• links
• lynx
• minks

Kids Definition

sphinx

noun

ˈsfiŋ(k)s 

plural sphinxes or sphinges ˈsfin-ˌjēz 

: an ancient Egyptian image having the body of a lion and the head of a man, ram, or hawk