A mummy is a dead body that has been preserved so it doesn't decay the way bodies normally do. The ancient Egyptians were masters at making mummies: they would remove the internal organs, dry out the body with special salts, wrap it in hundreds of yards of linen bandages, and seal it in decorated coffins. They believed this careful preservation would help the person's spirit in the afterlife.

Egyptian mummies have lasted for thousands of years because of Egypt's hot, dry climate and the skill of ancient embalmers. When archaeologists open tombs, they sometimes find mummies that still have skin, hair, and even fingernails intact. Museums around the world display mummies in climate-controlled cases so visitors can see these remarkable examples of ancient preservation techniques.

Natural mummies can also form accidentally when bodies end up in very dry deserts, freezing ice, or airless bogs. These conditions stop the bacteria that normally break down organic matter.

The word can be used informally too: kids might say they feel like a mummy when wrapped up in blankets, or that someone looks like a mummy when covered head to toe in bandages after an injury. In British English, “mummy” also means mother.