Amazon

The word “Amazon” means a member of a legendary race of female warriors said to live near the Black Sea in Greek mythology. In plain terms, either the legendary warrior women of Greek myth, a powerfully built woman, or (capitalized) the river and rainforest in South America.

“Amazon” is pronounced AM-uh-zuhn (/ˈæm.əˌzɑn/ in IPA).

Here is “Amazon” used in a sentence: “The vase painting showed an Amazon riding into battle.”

Depending on how it is used, “Amazon” can be a noun and a name.

The word “Amazon” comes from Ancient Greek.

“Amazon” is a fairly common word in modern English.

“Amazon” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a member of a legendary race of female warriors said to live near the Black Sea in Greek mythology.

The Amazons of Greek myth, an all-female warrior nation, are legendary rather than historical. However, archaeology has found real warrior women among the ancient Scythian and Sarmatian peoples of the steppes near the Black Sea, buried with their weapons, which many scholars think helped inspire the myth.

Beyond mythology, an amazon, spelt with a small a, describes a tall, strong, athletic woman. The sense borrows the myth's image of a powerful female warrior. It is usually admiring, though it can sound dated depending on how and where it is used.

Yes, according to the traditional account. A sixteenth-century Spanish explorer is said to have named the South American river after a battle with female warriors on its banks, who reminded him of the Amazons of Greek legend. The vast rainforest then took its name from the river.

Well-known figures include Queen Hippolyta, whose girdle Heracles was sent to fetch, and Penthesilea, who fought at Troy and was slain by Achilles. Their queens and cities appear across Greek myth, and the modern superhero Wonder Woman is written as an Amazon princess.