noun
harpy
HAH-pee
Harpy (noun) means In Greek mythology, a monstrous creature with the body of a bird and the face of a woman. Example: “In the myth, harpies snatched food from Phineus's table.”
noun
1
In Greek mythology, a monstrous creature with the body of a bird and the face of a woman.
"In the myth, harpies snatched food from Phineus's table."
2
An insulting term for a nagging, unpleasant woman.
"The tabloids cruelly labelled her an office harpy."
3
A large eagle-like bird of prey found in Central and South America (the harpy eagle).
"The harpy eagle can snatch monkeys straight out of the treetops."
How to use harpy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA mythological bird-woman monster, a real bird of prey named after it, or (as an insult) a nagging woman.
When to use it
Calling a person a "harpy" is an old-fashioned, sexist insult — best avoided in modern writing except when discussing the word's history.
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Word forms
- Plural
- harpies
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The tabloids cruelly labelled her an office _____.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek harpuia, "snatcher," from harpazo, "to seize" — the same root behind "rapacious."
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “harpy” mean?
The word “harpy” means in Greek mythology, a monstrous creature with the body of a bird and the face of a woman. In plain terms, a mythological bird-woman monster, a real bird of prey named after it, or (as an insult) a nagging woman.
How do you pronounce “harpy”?
“Harpy” is pronounced HAH-pee (/ˈhɑɹpi/ in IPA).
How do you use “harpy” in a sentence?
Here is “harpy” used in a sentence: “The tabloids cruelly labelled her an office harpy.”
What part of speech is “harpy”?
“Harpy” is a noun.
Where does the word “harpy” come from?
The word “harpy” comes from Ancient Greek. From Ancient Greek harpuia, "snatcher," from harpazo, "to seize" — the same root behind "rapacious.".
How many meanings does “harpy” have?
“Harpy” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in Greek mythology, a monstrous creature with the body of a bird and the face of a woman.
