sphinx: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2literary, historical, figurative
Quick answer
What does “sphinx” mean?
A mythological creature with the body of a lion and a human head, often depicted as a riddle-poser in Greek mythology.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A mythological creature with the body of a lion and a human head, often depicted as a riddle-poser in Greek mythology; also, a person who is enigmatic, mysterious, or inscrutable.
In modern contexts, any large, monumental statue resembling the original, particularly the Great Sphinx of Giza; figuratively, a person who is difficult to understand or who speaks very little.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant usage difference. Both use it primarily in historical/cultural and figurative contexts.
Connotations
Connotations are identical: ancient mystery, riddles, silence.
Frequency
Equally rare in everyday speech, found in similar literary and historical registers.
Grammar
How to Use “sphinx” in a Sentence
be a sphinxremain a sphinxsit like a sphinxVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Figuratively, 'The CEO was a sphinx during the merger talks, revealing nothing.'
Academic
Common in archaeology, art history, and classical studies to describe specific statues and mythological figures.
Everyday
Very rare. Used figuratively for a very quiet or mysterious person: 'He just sat there, a perfect sphinx.'
Technical
Specific term in Egyptology and archaeology for a type of monumental sculpture.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sphinx”
- Pronouncing the 'ph' as /f/ but the 'nx' as /nks/ (correct is /sfɪŋks/).
- Using 'sphinx' to mean any large statue (it must have the lion-body/human-head form).
- Capitalising incorrectly when not referring to the specific Great Sphinx.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
While the most famous is Egyptian, similar mythological creatures (lion with human/animal head) appear in Greek and Mesopotamian mythologies.
No, 'sphinx' is exclusively a noun. The adjectival form is 'sphinx-like'.
Both mean 'mystery'. 'Sphinx' is more literary and specifically evokes the imagery of the silent, stone statue or the riddle-poser, often describing a person's demeanour. 'Enigma' is more general.
The plural is usually 'sphinxes' (/ˈsfɪŋksɪz/). The less common, traditional plural 'sphinges' (/ˈsfɪndʒiːz/) is sometimes used in academic contexts.
A mythological creature with the body of a lion and a human head, often depicted as a riddle-poser in Greek mythology.
Sphinx is usually literary, historical, figurative in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a sphinx-like expression”
- “the riddle of the Sphinx”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: SPHINX = SPHINKS. It 'sphinx' (sinks) into the sand, mysterious and silent.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PERSON IS A SPHINX (for being mysterious/silent); A PROBLEM IS A SPHINX'S RIDDLE (for being complex and potentially fatal to solve incorrectly).
Practice
Quiz
In its most common figurative use, calling someone 'a sphinx' suggests they are: