: 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
Examples of phoenix in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Darnold proved success in football, like life, is not always linear.
—
Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Brains member Aubry Bracco would go on to play two more times after this season, but her phoenix journey in Kaôh Rōng is her most remembered.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
The miracle of her tenacity and fearlessness felt phoenix-like.
—Michael Alcée, Hartford Courant, 9 Feb. 2026
Subtle symbols are placed throughout the restaurant, like the phoenix, a sign of Chung’s survival.
—Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas Morning News, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for phoenix
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Brains member Aubry Bracco would go on to play two more times after this season, but her phoenix journey in Kaôh Rōng is her most remembered.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
The miracle of her tenacity and fearlessness felt phoenix-like.
—Michael Alcée, Hartford Courant, 9 Feb. 2026
Subtle symbols are placed throughout the restaurant, like the phoenix, a sign of Chung’s survival.
—Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas Morning News, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for phoenix
Cite this Entry
“Phoenix.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phoenix. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
