What does "phalanx" mean?
An ancient Greek and Macedonian military unit that consisted of several ranks and files (lines) of soldiers in close array with joined shields and long spears.
Phalanx
/ˈfeɪˌlæŋks/ name, noun
name, noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An ancient Greek and Macedonian military unit that consisted of several ranks and files (lines) of soldiers in close array with joined shields and long spears.
- Grammar: phalanx is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: age group, army, army group, array.
- Useful contrasts: disarray, disorganization, dispersal.
- Usage evidence: The general charges the phalanx of the Egyptians.
How to use "phalanx"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "phalanx" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "phalanx" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "phalanx" as the right word for your sentence.
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Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "phalanx" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "age group" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "phalanx", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An ancient Greek and Macedonian military unit that consisted of several ranks and files (lines) of soldiers in close array with joined shields and long spears. historical
- 2 any of the bones of the fingers or toes wordnet
- 3 A Fourierite utopian community; a phalanstery. historical
"[Charles Fourier] calculated that if precisely 1,620 men, women and children were collected in a 6,000-acre phalanx, they would — all by merrily following their individual passions — end up satisfying all the phalanx’s essential needs."
- 4 a body of troops in close array wordnet
- 5 A large group of people, animals or things, compact or closely massed, or tightly knit and united in common purpose.
"The monarch hath gone, but his rocky throne Still rests on its frowning base; Its motionless guards rise in phalanx lone, And nought save the winds through their helmets that moan, And none but those bosoms and hearts of stone Sigh o'er a fallen race."
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 any closely ranked crowd of people wordnet
- 7 One of the bones of the finger or toe.
- 8 A bundle of stamens, in diadelphous and polyadelphous flowers.
Proper Noun
- 1 The brand name of a radar-controlled rapid fire 20mm Gatling-type machine gun, the Phalanx CIWS (pronounced see-wiz), deployed on U.S. Navy ships as a last line of defense against antiship cruise missiles.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"The general charges the phalanx of the Egyptians."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "phalanx"?
Common synonyms include: age group, army, army group, array, band, battalion.
How do you use "phalanx" in a sentence?
The general charges the phalanx of the Egyptians.
How do you pronounce "phalanx"?
Pronounced /ˈfeɪˌlæŋks/.
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin phalanx or Ancient Greek φάλαγξ (phálanx, “battle order, array”). Doublet of phalange, planch, plancha, planche, and plank.