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Definition of phoebe

phoebe

/ˈfiː.bi/
phoe · be

Plural:phoebes
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phoebe Lexical Profile

phoebe Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

In Greek mythology, a Titan associated with the moon and intellect; also commonly used as a female given name.

Example

"She named her daughter Phoebe, inspired by the ancient Greek association with brightness and the moon."


2

North American Any of several small tyrant flycatchers of the genus Sayornis, native to the Americas, noted for their distinct, repetitious calls and habit of wagging their tails.

Example

"The eastern phoebe built its nest of mud and moss under the eaves of the old wooden barn."


3

A small, irregularly shaped outer satellite of the planet Saturn, discovered in 1898 and believed to be a captured centaur from the Kuiper belt.

Example

"Images returned by the Cassini spacecraft revealed that Phoebe is heavily cratered and has a dark surface."

• Rhymes for phoebe

Word Origin & Etymology

From Latin 'Phoebe', derived from the Ancient Greek 'Phoibē' (Φοίβη), feminine of 'phoibos' meaning 'bright' or 'radiant'. It originally denoted a Titan associated with the moon in Greek mythology, and was later applied to the American flycatcher (partly echoing its call) and the Saturnian moon.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Phoebe. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/phoebe
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