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Meaning & use

phalanx

noun·Advanced

Last updated

UK/ˈfælæŋks/
US/ˈfeɪlæŋks/

Meanings

  1. nouncountabletechnical

    A tight block of soldiers marching or fighting side by side with overlapping shields and long spears, as in ancient Greece.

    Grammar: Plural is 'phalanxes' or 'phalanges'.

    Patterns

    • a phalanx of soldiers

    The Macedonian phalanx moved forward with spears lowered.

    A phalanx of shields held back the enemy.

    Students learn how the Greek phalanx worked.

  2. nouncountablefigurative

    A large group of people or things standing or moving together, usually to protect or oppose.

    Grammar: Often followed by 'of': a phalanx of lawyers.

    Patterns

    • a phalanx of something

    A phalanx of security guards blocked the door.

    The star arrived with a phalanx of assistants.

    A phalanx of reporters surrounded the senator.

  3. nouncountablemedicaltechnical

    Any of the small bones in a finger or toe.

    Grammar: Anatomy term; the plural is phalanges.

    Patterns

    • a phalanx of the finger

    The X-ray showed a broken phalanx.

    Each finger has three phalanges, except the thumb.

    The doctor examined the proximal phalanx.

Word forms

pluralphalanxes
plural (anatomy)phalanges

Common combinations

phalanx of lawyers
A phalanx of lawyers stood behind him.
phalanx of police
A phalanx of police held back the crowd.
Greek phalanx
The Greek phalanx was hard to break.
proximal phalanx
The proximal phalanx is next to the hand.
form a phalanx
The guards formed a phalanx around the door.

Synonyms and how they differ

squad
Squad is a small group with a shared task, whereas phalanx suggests a larger, tighter block.
cordon
Cordon is a line of people or objects forming a barrier, while phalanx suggests a thicker mass.
array
Array means an impressive arrangement but without the idea of defending.
battalion
Battalion is a military unit and, used figuratively, suggests a very large force.

Word family

phalanges noun
the plural of phalanx in anatomy
phalangeal adjective
relating to the bones of fingers or toes
phalangist noun
a member of a phalanx or similar group

Commonly confused: phalanx or falange?

phalanx vs falange

Falange is a Spanish word for a political party. In English the spelling is phalanx.

Practice

A ___ of bodyguards surrounded the singer as she left the building.

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