noun
phalanx
FA-langks
Phalanx (noun) means a tight military formation of soldiers standing shoulder to shoulder with shields and spears, used in ancient Greece. Example: “The Macedonian phalanx advanced with spears bristling in every direction.”
noun
1
A tight military formation of soldiers standing shoulder to shoulder with shields and spears, used in ancient Greece.
"The Macedonian phalanx advanced with spears bristling in every direction."
2
A large, tightly packed group of people or things acting together.
"A phalanx of photographers blocked the actor's path."
3
One of the small bones that make up a finger or toe.
"The X-ray showed a hairline fracture in the proximal phalanx."
How to use phalanx
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither an ancient tightly packed battle formation, a dense crowd acting as one, or a finger/toe bone.
Common pairings
phalanx of soldiers
phalanx of reporters
proximal phalanx
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Word forms
- Plural
- phalanxes, phalanges
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The Macedonian _____ advanced with spears bristling in every direction.
Etymology
From Greek phalanx, "battle order, line of soldiers" — later borrowed by anatomists for the similarly lined-up finger bones.
Frequently asked questions
What does “phalanx” mean?
The word “phalanx” means a tight military formation of soldiers standing shoulder to shoulder with shields and spears, used in ancient Greece. In plain terms, either an ancient tightly packed battle formation, a dense crowd acting as one, or a finger/toe bone.
How do you pronounce “phalanx”?
“Phalanx” is pronounced FA-langks (/ˈfeɪˌlæŋks/ in IPA).
How do you use “phalanx” in a sentence?
Here is “phalanx” used in a sentence: “The Macedonian phalanx advanced with spears bristling in every direction.”
What part of speech is “phalanx”?
“Phalanx” is a noun.
Where does the word “phalanx” come from?
The word “phalanx” comes from Greek. From Greek phalanx, "battle order, line of soldiers" — later borrowed by anatomists for the similarly lined-up finger bones.
How many meanings does “phalanx” have?
“Phalanx” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a tight military formation of soldiers standing shoulder to shoulder with shields and spears, used in ancient Greece.
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