noun
sphinx
SFIHNGKS
noun
1
A mythical creature with a human head and a lion's body, most famously the giant statue near Egypt's Great Pyramids.
"Tourists lined up for hours to photograph the Sphinx at Giza."
"The riddle of the Sphinx is one of the most famous puzzles in Greek mythology."
2
Someone hard to read — a person who keeps their thoughts, feelings, or plans hidden.
"The CEO remained a sphinx throughout the negotiations, giving nothing away."
"Her sphinx-like expression made it impossible to guess what she was thinking."
How to Use Sphinx
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the famous lion-bodied statue in Egypt, or, more loosely, a person who gives nothing away.
Common pairings
the Sphinx of Giza
a sphinx-like smile
remain a sphinx
Word Forms
sphinxed past tense, sphinxes plural, sphinges plural, sphinxes singular
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Etymology
From Ancient Greek Sphinx, possibly linked to the verb "to squeeze" or "strangle" (the same root behind sphincter) — though some trace it instead to an Egyptian phrase meaning "living image."