Argus

American  

[ahr-guhs] / ˈɑr gəs /

noun

1. Classical Mythology. a giant with 100 eyes, set to guard the heifer Io: his eyes were transferred after his death to the peacock's tail.

2. a son of Phrixus and builder of the Argo.

3. (in theOdyssey ) Odysseus' faithful dog, who recognized his master after twenty years and immediately died.

4. any observant or vigilant person; a watchful guardian.

5. (lowercase) Also argus pheasant any of several brilliantly marked Malayan pheasants of the Argusianus or Rheinardia genera.

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argus ¹ British  

/ ˈɑːɡəs /

noun

1. any of various brown butterflies, esp the Scotch argus ( Erebia aethiops ) found on moorland and in forests up to a height of 2000 m

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Argus ² British  

/ ˈɑːɡəs /

noun

1. Greek myth a giant with a hundred eyes who was made guardian of the heifer Io. After he was killed by Hermes his eyes were transferred to the peacock's tail

2. a vigilant person; guardian

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Argus Cultural  

1. A creature in classical mythology who had a hundred eyes. Hera set him to watch over Io, a girl who had been seduced by Zeus and then turned into a cow; with Argus on guard, Zeus could not come to rescue Io, for only some of Argus' eyes would be closed in sleep at any one time. Hermes, working on Zeus' behalf, played music that put all the eyes to sleep and then killed Argus. Hera put his eyes in the tail of the peacock.

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Etymology

Origin of Argus

< Latin < Greek Árgos, derivative of argós bright, shining

Example Sentences

“Europe needs to outbid Asia in order to restock sufficiently for the next winter,” said Natasha Fielding, an analyst at Argus Media.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 3, 2026

Weaker oil futures weighed on ag prices Monday, says Argus in a note.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026

Its heavy crude stockpiles are big enough to last until March, says Tom Reed, vice president of China crude at Argus Media.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 12, 2026

Petropiar—operated with Chevron under limited U.S. licenses—remains partially functional, according to Argus Media.

From Barron's • Jan. 6, 2026

She gave her into the charge of Argus, an excellent arrangement for Hera’s purpose, since Argus had a hundred eyes.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton