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  • phoenix
    phoenix
    noun
    Sometimes Phoenix a mythical bird of great beauty fabled to live 500 or 600 years in the Arabian wilderness, to burn itself on a funeral pyre, and to rise from its ashes in the freshness of youth and live through another cycle of years: often an emblem of immortality or of reborn idealism or hope.
  • Phoenix
    Phoenix
    noun
Synonyms

phoenix

1 American  
[fee-niks] / ˈfi nɪks /
Also phenix

noun

genitive

Phoenicis
  1. Sometimes Phoenix a mythical bird of great beauty fabled to live 500 or 600 years in the Arabian wilderness, to burn itself on a funeral pyre, and to rise from its ashes in the freshness of youth and live through another cycle of years: often an emblem of immortality or of reborn idealism or hope.

  2. (initial capital letter) a southern constellation between Hydrus and Sculptor.

  3. a person or thing of peerless beauty or excellence; paragon.

  4. a person or thing that has become renewed or restored after suffering calamity or apparent annihilation.


Phoenix 2 American  
[fee-niks] / ˈfi nɪks /

noun

  1. Classical Mythology.

    1. the brother of Cadmus and Europa, and eponymous ancestor of the Phoenicians.

    2. a son of Amyntor and Cleobule who became the foster father of Achilles and who fought with the Greek forces in the Trojan War.

  2. a city in and the capital of Arizona, in the central part.

  3. Military. a 13-foot (4-meter), 989-pound (445-kilogram) U.S. Navy air-to-air missile with radar guidance and a range of over 120 nautical miles.


phoenix 1 British  
/ ˈfiːnɪks /

noun

  1. a legendary Arabian bird said to set fire to itself and rise anew from the ashes every 500 years

  2. a person or thing of surpassing beauty or quality

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Phoenix 2 British  
/ ˈfiːnɪks /

noun

  1. a constellation in the S hemisphere lying between Grus and Eridanus

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Phoenix 3 British  
/ ˈfiːnɪks /

noun

  1. a city in central Arizona, capital city of the state, on the Salt River. Pop: 1 388 416 (2003 est)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Phoenix 1 Cultural  
  1. Capital city of Arizona.


phoenix 2 Cultural  
  1. A mythical bird that periodically burned itself to death and emerged from the ashes as a new phoenix. According to most stories, the rebirth of the phoenix happened every five hundred years. Only one phoenix lived at a time.


Discover More

To “rise like a phoenix from the ashes” is to overcome a seemingly insurmountable setback.

Etymology

Origin of phoenix

First recorded before 900; from Latin, from Greek phoînix “a mythical bird, purple-red color,” Phoenician, “date palm”; replacing Middle English, Old English fēnix, from Medieval Latin; Latin as above

Explanation

If you want to see a phoenix, simply locate a unicorn or a centaur, and then you'll be in the right neighborhood. A phoenix is a mythical bird known for rising from its ashes. Don't try that at home! Accordingly to ancient legend, the phoenix is a bird that cyclically burns to death and is reborn from its own ashes. For this reason, the phoenix often serves as a symbol of renewal and rebirth. The name of Phoenix, Arizona is a direct reference to this idea; Phoenix was built upon the ruins of a civilization that had collapsed long before, apparently due to drought.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing phoenix

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Hunter-Neill's solicitor Victoria Haddock, of Phoenix Law, described the settlement by TalkTV as a "vindication of my client's reputation".

From BBC • May 17, 2026

The Mountain View-based company is currently ahead in the race to scale robotaxis across the country, with thousands of vehicles transporting paying customers in cities including Los Angeles, Miami and Phoenix.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026

All of them outgrew Phoenix in sheer numbers.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026

TSMC’s investment in Phoenix is a major achievement.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026

Behind us, the stadium lets out another piercing round of shrieks as the giant screens show a montage of Team Phoenix Riders’ best plays from last year.

From "Warcross" by Marie Lu

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