phalanx

noun
UK: /ˈfælæŋks/
US: /ˈfælæŋks/

  1. A group of people standing or moving close together.

    1. A phalanx of police blocked the road ahead.
    2. The protesters formed a tight phalanx, making it hard to pass through the crowd.

  2. In ancient Greece, a rectangular mass military formation, usually composed entirely of heavy infantry armed with spears, pikes, sarissas, or similar polearms.

    1. The Greek phalanx advanced slowly and steadily.
    2. The strength of the hoplite army was in its tightly-packed phalanx formation.

Synonyms

formation array group mass

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "phalanx" in English means: A group of people standing or moving close together., In ancient Greece, a rectangular mass military formation, usually composed entirely of heavy infantry armed with spears, pikes, sarissas, or similar polearms..

The phonetic transcription of "phalanx" is /ˈfælæŋks/ in British English and /ˈfælæŋks/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "phalanx": formation, array, group, mass.

Example usage of "phalanx": "A phalanx of police blocked the road ahead.". More examples on the page.